While some countries can boast of a tele-density of more than 90 per cent, most of the countries of the SAARC region are still struggling with single-digit figures. This session will set the ball rolling for the CEO Conclave 2006 and discuss the next steps in telecom technology and their relevance to the SAARC region

• What next in terms of technology?
• How big is the market for new technologies?
• Readiness for next generation technologies (NGN and 3G) in terms of regulations, infrastructure and
• revenue models
• What are the possible business models?
• How can one leverage from SAARC as a region?

NGNs converge all of these networks—voice, data andvideo—into a common packet infrastructure. This intelligent, highly efficient infrastructure delivers universal access and host of new technologies, applications, and service opportunities. To prepare ourselves for NGN, we need to know what is happening worldwide and how it can be deployed in the region:

• International experience of NGN
• Different steps for deployment
• How to transform existing infrastructure to NGN
• infrastructure?
• Regulatory impediments
• Applications that can be deployed

As the region readies itself to roll out 3G, there are a few things to put in order first. Most important among
those is the development of strategies for the implementation of 3G.

• HSDPA Vrs Wi-Max-- Do they compete or complement?
• The Sri Lankan story
• Implementation strategies
• Right business model
• Handset strategies
• Worldwide success stories

With new technologies knocking at the region’s door, content also has to be ready for them. Voice, video and data—the new technologies will carry all three with equal élan. Creating a killer application for each of them is going to be the next big challenge.

• What new applications will be possible?
• What will be the revenue models for them?
• Is there enough content and can their be SAARC synergies for it?
• Creating compelling content and services
• Challenges facing mobile TV
• Role of mobile commerce in boosting ARPU

India, Pakistan, and other countries in the region are favorite outsourcing destinations of the world. While
this has been leveraged the most in the IT segment, the telecom segment is also open to the opportunity.

• Does outsourcing make business sense?
• How can SAARC countries leverage from each others’ strengths with respect to managed services?
• How can the region learn and leverage from India as an outsourcing hub?
• Are there cost advantages?

The SAARC opportunity is immense. There are already 200 million lines (including fixed and mobile) in the region and the number is expected to grow to 300 million by September 2007. And with most of the region’s population residing in the villages, all SAARC countries consider rural telecom development a priority and are formulating schemes for the same.

• Can we look at outsourcing?
• Can we look at common tariff across the region?
• Can we learn from each others experience?