TRA brings in UK experience to further consumer needs in the telecoms sector

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that it will be hosting a presentation on UK experience in furthering consumer needs in the telecoms sector by the Chairperson of the UK Communications Management Association (CMA), Ms. Carolyn Kimber, at 6.30 p.m. on 2 May 2007 in Awal ballroom at the Gulf Hotel.

This presentation comes as one of the steps TRA is taking to promote consumer involvement and empowerment in the telecoms sector in the Kingdom.

In addition, Ms. Kimber will also shed light in her presentation on how CMA, being a non-profit organization, has evolved during the past 50 years to become an organization that provides a single voice of enterprises to the UK regulator, Ofcom, as well as providing updates on telecommunications issues and technologies that can be of benefit to its members.

It is worth noting that the UK was one of the first countries in the world to begin the process of liberalization of its telecoms sector, in 1984. Since then, the telecoms market in the UK has been open to competition in all market segments, and consumers now enjoy extensive choice in telecoms services.

Consumer groups in the UK also play a vital role in furthering consumer interests in the sector. TRA hopes that this presentation will provide consumer groups in Bahrain with useful knowledge which could lead to fruitful discussions on how to adapt the UK experience to the development of consumer empowerment in the Kingdom.

Commenting on the announcement of the CMA chairperson's visit, the General Director of TRA, Mr. Alan Horne, said: "We strongly encourage consumer societies, both residential and business, to attend this presentation so as to benefit from the experience of others, especially in terms of using consumer purchasing power to help them find telecommunications solutions that fit their needs and provide them with best value for money".