Arab states called to reduce digital gap, forum

The 7th Arab Telecom and Internet Forum (ATIF) called on the Arab states to work to reduce the digital gap between the North and the South.

Participants at the forum called on liberalizing the telecommunications sector and introducing new technologies and services at competitive and carefully studied prices to improve services and meet local populations needs.

They also urged for generalising access to telecommunications services as "one of the basic human rights."

The Arab community should play an important role in the second phase of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) that will take place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005 to reduce the digital gap between the North and the South, participants pointed out.

The forum studied several issues notably developing the telecommunications sector beyond liberalization, introducing technology and new services to create new sources of profit, the emerging wireless technologies and their future in the region, the role of satellite operators in the Broadband Revolution and Arab co-ordination for the 2nd Summit of WSIS to be held in Tunisia.

ATIF, that took place May 19-21, brought together around 500 prominent delegates including several Arab telecom ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, regional and international ICT representatives, corporate leaders and field experts from around the world.