Re: PalTel/ISP Draft Working Paper

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

Gentlemen,

The ball is in the Internet Service Provider's court now to name a time and
place to meet, discuss and finalize.

PalTel is ready and raring to go.

Enough words. Time for action and results.

Regards

ARO

____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
----- 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>; <general@itsig.org>; "AbdelRahman Omar"
<aromar@paltel.net>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 2:11 AM
Subject: Re: PalTel/ISP Draft Working Paper


> On 31 Jul 2001,, AbdelRahman Omar wrote:
>
> > 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
>
> I believe as far as those who have been working on this issue for a while
now,
> history did not start with PALTEL's draft paper. Nevertheless.
>
> > 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
>
> In telecom, as you well know, it takes more than two to tango to build a
> sector that secures the interest of the consumer and provides for the
> sustainable development of the sector.  If two suppliers tango and the
> consumer and/or sector pays the price, I for one, would not see that as
> progress.
>
> > 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.
>
> While PALTEL avoids any real competition (a natural reaction given its
clear
> monopoly position), are we to believe that the sector players are always
to
> wait for PALTEL to catch up, technically and commercially, before action
> can be taken on any issue?
>
> > 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.
>
> Same comment as above.  Please explain "degrees of freedom".
>
> > 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.
>
> I agree fully, expect for the hollow call for users to not use any and all
> available end-user technologies readily available.  Otherwise, we would
need
> to ask all Palestinians to refrain from using services like MSN, etc - not
too
> practical.  On the other hand, if you speak of IP switching services with
the
> goal of re-selling service as an alternative to Paltel services, then I
fully agree.
>
> > Very simple and very fair.
>
> True, if Paltel was not already heavily invested in a specific (or more)
ISP's
> with no real regulation in place to provide for a level playing field.
>
> > 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
>
> Hummm, I do not understand the collective action requirement or PALTEL's
> right thereof.
>
> > 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.
>
> Those that have been engaged in this issue for years could not agree more
> to want to end this saga, and others for that matter too.
>
> > 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.
>
> Ahh my friend, as you know, "the death is in the details".  Do you not
read
> every word and sentence of your interconnect agreements?  This is just as
> important to the ISP's.
>
> If we are to look at the bigger picture, then the issue cannot be said to
have
> a 3-month history and we cannot separate the ISP issue from the overall
> telecom sector development or history.  Also, we cannot continue to ignore
> the lack of regulation or missing consumer protection mechanisms.
>
> Again, I agree with your first msg that we meet face to face as interested
> sector parties and first, personally get to know one another, and second,
> agree to which parties have the right to act and in which frameworks.
>
> Salaam,
> Sam
>
> >
> >
____________________________________________________________________________
> > ___________________________________________ ----- 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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