Re: PalTel/ISP Draft Working Paper

["AbdelRahman Omar" <aromar@paltel.net>]

Sir,

As far as I am concerned, this Draft Working Paper was only a couple of
months in the making. And it is in Draft form as a courtesy to the other
parties to provide their comments and inputs prior to finalizing. It takes
two to tango. PalTel can easily issue a Finalized Policy unilaterally. But I
personally would not consider this a Partnership and/or a cooperative effort
between PalTel and the ISP's, which is the objective of this exercise

It was only fair for it to take the couple of months as it took some time to
understand the existing situation from all angles, strengthen certain areas
such as the Data Backbone, Initiate, negotiate and finalize Interconnect
Agreements with various Telco's to increase and enhance PalTel's Internet
Infrastructure capacity etc etc. In short, it was prudent to do our homework
to ensure PalTel can deliver what is stated in the Paper.

It was equally prudent to ensure and position PalTel such that if the ISP's
deem it not in their interest to work with and Partner with PalTel, in this
very important economic and social sector, that PalTel will have the degrees
of freedom, the capability and resources to go it alone.

In short. What is on the table now is an offer from PalTel to the ISP
community that PalTel will not compete in the ISP business, other than
providing the required infrastructure at reasonable cost for the ISP's to
expand and be profitable, in lieu that the ISP's use and only use PalTel
infrastructure, as well as not to compete in PalTel's core business which is
Telecommunications including IP Telephony.

Very simple and very fair.

I am asking now for the ISP's, as an entity because PalTel will not deal
with each and everyone separately, to get their act together, meet with us
as a unified Group, and discuss and finalize this blueprint. And the sooner
the better so as to get this issue behind us and move on.

I hope I am addressing the right people. If not, please advise me who to
address.

Thanks.

ARO

P.S. Instead of dissecting every word and sentence, sometimes out of
context, it would more productive and constructive to look at the big
picture and address the issues at hand. This kind of analysis and dialogue
is simply a waste of time and effort.

____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam Bahour" <sbahour@palnet.com>
To: <Board@pita-palestine.org>; <tareq.maayah@ict.siemens.com>; "Ahmed
Abumarzouq" <ahmed@p-i-s.com>; <myounes@hally.net>;
<ibrahim_barham@safad.com>; "Maan Bseiso" <maan@palnet.com>;
<ZahiKhouri@aol.com>; "Mousab Khorma" <mkhorma@hotmail.com>;
<wnajjab@mcs-palestine.com>; <rohaifa@cabank-pal.com>; "nael asad"
<nael.asad@paltel.net>; <jamal.salameh@platel.net>; "Daoud Daoud"
<daoud.daoud@paltel.net>; "Suleiman Mashriqi EE-mail""
<suleiman.mashriqi@paltel.net>; <farid.taha@paltel.net>; "Nabil Tamimi"
<nabil.tamimi@paltel.net>; <khalil.hamad@paltel.net>; "Haytham Zuabi"
<hzuabi@zaytona.com>; <leith@4san.com>; <ghiath@firstnet.com.jo>;
<mohammad.ali@paltel.net>; "AbdelRahman Omar" <aromar@paltel.net>;
<general@itsig.org>
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: PalTel/ISP Draft Working Paper


Dear all,

After an initial reading of the first written PALTEL Internet Strategy (2
yrs in
the working and still in draft form) I notice language such as:

1.  In one of Paltel's emails they state that "[their] 'Monopoly' is a
fallacy",
then in their proposed strategy they state:

"Given PalTel's current advantage as the sole supplier of backbone
communication services.."

Humm, that sure sounds like a monopoly position to me...a real one, not a
virtual or fallacy one.  For more on this aspect see attatched analysis from
16/9/2000, only a few weeks prior to Intifada.

2.  "All ISP's must be licensed by ..."

- is this PALTEL's job to define?

3.  "...within a reasonable and specified period of time. PalTel's target is
a
year."

Self-imposed, firm-specifc targets are good, country sector development
targets are larger than any single monopoly operator's view of the world.

4.  "All ISP's should not entertain..."

- Is it PALTEL that defines what other operators can and cannot do?

5.  "..ISP's are not to provide, in any way shape or form, without the
explicit
knowledge and consent of PalTel.."

- Humm, in the post Sept 28 2000 period is PALTEL now the regulator too?

6.  "...PalTel will have the right, and obligation, to target specific
and/or all
ISP's ..."

- to target??!!

I fully agree with Mr. Omar that we should met, as a sector, face to face to
clear the positions on the table.  With the current complete paralysis of
the
PNA, and the historic deficiencies of the MOPT, maybe we can also discuss
using some of PALTEL's profits to build an independent communications
regulatory body as well, especially since competition is on the horizon (or
already on the ground).

Regards,
Sam


On 30 Jul 2001,, AbdelRahman Omar wrote:

> Ibrahim,
>
> Thank you for your correspondence and your kind words.
>
> I included your attached document as a refresher and a recap. Also to put
> this subject into context.
>
> I attached as per your request a Draft Working Paper outlining the
framework
> that I discussed with a number of your colleagues.
>
> I believe we are all in synch and on the same page in terms of our common
> objectives and how to get there.
>
> There remains a few topics that require a dialogue, preferably face to
face, to
> iron out the details of our common understandings and basis for
cooperation.
> These include:
>
> - Mechanisms/Processes for tracking our programs, achievements and
targets. -
> Agree on joint Public Awareness, Public Relations and Advertising
Programs. -
> Incentives/Rewards for the better achievers. Call it Volume
> Discounts....etc...together I am sure we can be very creative.
>
> I look forward to the opportunity to having such a dialogue to finalize
> matters to our mutual, and the End User's, benefits.
>
> Ibrahim, please advise your colleagues about this correspondence and let's
> try to expedite events and get the ball rolling. There are many challenges
> and opportunities facing us all that are just waiting to be addressed.
>
> My best Regards,
>
> Abdel Rahman Omar
> PalTel EVP for Tech Affairs.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> ____________ > -----Original Message----- > From: Ibrahim Barham
> [mailto:ibrahim_barham@safad.com] > Sent: 27/May/2001 01:56 PM > To:
> aromar@paltel.net > Cc: Maan Bseiso; wnajjab@mcs-palestine.com;
> mkhorma@paltel.net; > zahikhori@aol.com; Sbahour; Board; Tareq Maayah >
Subject:
> PITA reply > > > Dear Mr. Abdel Rahman > > First of all, let me introduce
> myself. I am Ibrahim Barham, the chairman of > board of PITA, and I myself
and
> all the board were so happy from the > feedback that we received from our
ISP
> members about the ideas that you were > presenting to them. And to follow
up
> what was discussed, here is attached > our reply to you depending on the
> strategy that was sent to Paltel two years > ago and I was informed that
you
> received it already from our colleagues. > > We are looking forward to
meet you
> so as to finalize this issue for the > benefit of all parties and our
community.
> > > Best regards, > > Ibrahim Barham, PITA > Chairman > > > > > >
>
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