Emirates Data Clearing House hosts 45 international clients in Dubai

This meeting brings representatives from 45 EDCH clients to the UAE for two days of networking and information sharing. EDCH will also be presenting new and value-added services that are available for existing and new clients. Some of the Corporations represented at the UGM are MTC, Wataniya, CelTel and Investcom.

A key announcement that was made at the User Group Meeting was the formation of the EDCH Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from key EDCH clients and industry leaders. This Board will guide EDCH on its focus, development, and services to the industry to enhance the international roaming business. Recommendations of the Advisory Board will impact most international operators, ultimately translating to benefits to the roaming customer.

EDCH is one of only five companies worldwide and the only one in the region that provides GSM or mobile phone companies with electronic data transfer and financial services. Now servicing 45 operators in 34 different countries, EDCH boasts a network of resources that is expanding to meet the growth in call traffic volume. From the 2004 value of call data records, EDCH has experienced a growth of around 11 per cent, having already processed USD 642 million worth of call records in 2005.

When a user makes a telephone call on roaming status, or outside of their home network, EDCH ensures that the call is accepted and verified by the appropriate network within seconds. Details of the call are then transferred securely through an electronic network to the user's home network for recording and eventual billing. The process is complex and must be completed seamlessly with the utmost accuracy and dependability, a constant focus of EDCH that has gained it clients and their trust.

Ahmed Al Mehyas, Manager of EDCH, said:

'In 2005 alone we have processed more than 1.3 billion call records, double what we processed in 2004, and this is a good indicator of the direction of the international mobile industry. As the world becomes a smaller place both in terms of communication and transport, we at EDCH are positioned to provide the best support in both financial clearing and data call record processing for our clients.'

'We are happy to constantly upgrade and add value to our services to our clients. We have reached our financial target two months ahead and have completed full ISO certification, enhanced on-line access and various other technical features. Some of the key elements that we are actively pursuing now include pre-paid roaming, m-commerce (mobile commerce), data warehousing and much more', he added.

An innovation in the pipeline for EDCH clients is the Roaming Brokerage, whereby clients signing up for the service will no longer need to conclude individual roaming agreements with worldwide GSM operators, but can instead gain access to nearly 480 GSM operators across the globe through one single agreement with EDCH.

Delegates to the annual user EDCH conference will receive updates and participate in several discussions dealing with best practices in this emerging industry.