WORLD'S WIRELESS OPERATORS ACT TO SPEED GLOBAL MOBILE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

New CEO Board to accelerate and prioritise introduction of new services

Istanbul, 16 October 2002. In a landmark development, CEOs from the world's leading wireless network operators today agreed to work together at Boardroom level to speed the implementation of new services and third generation wireless networks.

The GSM Association confirmed that it would now - at the instigation of the CEOs - establish a wireless network operator CEO-level Board to replace its current structure and provide leadership and strategic guidance to the global wireless community.

The formation of the high-level Board is driven by the need to accelerate and prioritise the agreement and introduction of common global platforms and to create the best possible environment for the fast introduction of compelling new consumer services

The 21-member CEO board will include Board-level representatives of twelve of the world's largest wireless operators by subscriber numbers. Major global operator groups such as Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, China Mobile, Singtel Optus, Cingular Wireless, TIM, Telefonica, Sonera and AT&T Wireless were among the CEO Advisory Group that devised the proposed changes.

The announcement came after the presentation of the restructuring plan at the GSM Association's Plenary meeting in Istanbul, hosted by Turkish network operator, Telsim.

In a historic vote, more than 90 per cent of the Association's Members - representing more than 530 network operators and 750 million users in some 180 countries - supported the proposal to make fundamental changes to the global Association's governance and decision-making processes. The changes come into effect from January 1, 2003.

The new Board will be charged with setting a clear and focused agenda for the GSM Association, and be better positioned to provide clarity of guidance and direction on operator needs to the broader wireless industry. The changes will enable the GSMA to provide a stronger, more influential voice, and will accelerate the implementation of collectively identified and commercially prioritised operator requirements.

Leading industry figures were quick to welcome the new structure and to embrace the positive lasting impact the changes will have on the global wireless industry.

GSM Association Chairman, Jim Pratt representing Singtel Optus said: "This is a milestone in the maturity of our industry and the Association. It signals a new era of co-operation, understanding and communication as we respond to one of the most challenging business climates of all times.

"We can now address these issues swiftly and with authority and I thank the Association's entire Membership for their vision and for their endorsement of the proposed changes," he added.

The Association's Deputy Chairman, Craig Ehrlich of Hong Kong operator SUNDAY Communications, was Chairman of the CEO Advisory committee who devised the structural changes and set the leadership goals.

"The new CEO Board will genuinely fulfil the prioritised needs of the network operators and their consumers - encouraging a climate of proactivity and ensuring that we remain focused on the goal," he said.

"With the expert guidance of the CEO Board, we can dedicate real resource and commitment to the task at hand. Fundamental issues - such as interoperability and roaming - will be top of our agenda. And fundamental business issues - such as the need to rebuild investor and customer confidence in our ability to deliver compelling new services - have fuelled our planning," said Ehrlich.

"With the strategic direction of a CEO Board we can fast-track to the next stage," explained GSM Association CEO Rob Conway. "The CEO Board will be able to provide the high level, strategic guidance and direction to help set the wireless industry agenda and become the true pathfinder for the evolution to 3G technologies and services."

-Ends-

Note to Editors:
The Operator Members of the CEO Advisory Board which devised the changes were:

AT&T Wireless
China Mobile
Cingular
NTT DoCoMo
Orange
Singtel Optus
Sonera
SUNDAY Communications
Telefonica
TIM
T Mobile
Vodafone

About the GSM Association
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the world's leading wireless industry representative body. It consists of more than 660 second and third generation wireless network operators working collaboratively to define, prioritize and communicate requirements, as well as key manufacturers and suppliers to the wireless industry. The Association's members provide digital wireless services to more than 747 million customers (end September 2002).

The GSM family of wireless communications platforms account for approximately 71 percent of the total digital wireless market today. The GSM Association is a unique organization, with truly global reach, offering a full range of business and technical services to its members.

GSM is a registered trademark, registered and owned by the GSM Association.

For further information please contact:
Mark Smith
Director Communications
The GSM Association
Tel: +44 207 518 0549
Fax: +44 207 518 0531
E-Mail: msmith@gsm.org

Clare Bragg/Richard Fogg
Companycare Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 118 939 5900
Email: clare@companycare.com / Richard@companycare.com

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