GULF, MIDDLE EAST ISP ASSOCIATION FORMED

December 13, 2004According to "Jordan Times", in a bid to providesupport for the Internet industry in the Middle East and the Gulfregion, six ISPs from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon andJordan announced the establishment of the Gulf and Middle East ISPAssociation (GMISPA). GMISPA gathers under one umbrella, the SaudiAwalNet, Emirates e-Company, KuwaitiQualityNet, Bahrain's Batelco,Lebanese IDM and Jordan's Wanadoo, according to a statement releasedby Wanadoo. At an event marking the launch, speakers lauded theadvanced level achieved by the ICT sector in Jordan and stressed onthe importance of rendering the Internet and IT industry dueattention and effort, due to its direct impact on the development andgrowth of the business, trade and e-education sector as well asothers. GMISPA is a nonprofit organization committed to advocate andsupport a healthy Internet industry in the Gulf and Middle Eastregion. The association believes that an open, competitivemarketplace for Internet access and services will benefit theInternet service industry and the people it serves, the statementsaid. GMISPA will serve as the unifying arm for Gulf and Middle EastISPs, connecting them together so they can serve mutual customers,exchange ideas and come up with solutions for common problems. Theassociation endeavors to achieve its goals through monthly meetingswith speakers, discussion groups, networking and dissemination ofinformation pertinent to the Internet community. It also will host amembers' e-mail list to exchange ideas and opinions, and a public e-mail list to promote Internet topics.