Best roaming rates in Arab World now available via new website

Mobile customers in the region will now be able to log on to the website, Roaming.GSMAW.org to find the best tariffs for making and receiving calls and text messages when they are travelling outside their home country.

This website, which is available in Arabic and English, contains roaming tariffs from over 20 operators in the Arab world and is currently being expanded in to include tariff information from more mobile operators in the Arab region.

Supported by the GSM Association, the website marks the second initiative in an ongoing drive by Arab operators to improve transparency, following the adoption in December 2006 of the 'Code of Conduct for information on international roaming retail prices' by 24 operators.

The website contains a search engine that allows customers to easily find out what it will cost them to make and receive a two minute call at peak times, as well as the cost of sending a text message, when roaming outside their home country. This is the first website of its type in the Arab world and the tariff information will be frequently updated.

'After discussions with regulators in the region, we are pleased to unveil a new initiative to improve the transparency of roaming tariffs,' said Bisher Mouhanna, Chairman of GSM Arab World, which represents GSM operators in the region.

'The industry is committed to offering customers easy ways to find out what it will cost to make and receive calls when travelling within the Arab region and this new website takes us a step closer in achieving this outcome.'

Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General and Board Member of TRA-UAE, Chairman of ARNET (Arab Regulators Network), said: 'The creation of the GSMAW roaming website is an important step for the mobile industry and we welcome the opportunity to work further with industry on initiatives that benefit consumers.'