Around 130 delegates, mostly operators, vendors and regulators, representing 22 countries in Asia Pacific will participate in the two-day meet beginning March 22 in Dhaka.

"GSM Asia Pacific meet is an important event in the calendar for mobile phone operators in this region," said Mehboob Chowdhury, vice-president of GSM Asia Pacific, in an interview with The Daily Star recently.

The GSM Association is the global trade body to promote, protect and enhance the interests of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) operators throughout the world, and Asia Pacific is one of its six regions.

Success stories of the cellphone companies operating in the region will be presented at the conference, Chowdhury mentioned.

Technology, service and regulatory situations in different countries of Asia Pacific region will also be on top of the agenda. Some of the participants will present their portfolios of value added services having glimpses of mobile phone industry in the Asia Pacific region.

"A Dhaka Declaration pinpointing future direction of mobile phone industry in the Asia Pacific will come out at the conference," said Chowdhury, also chief commercial officer of mobile phone operator Banglalink, which will sponsor the conference.

Asia Pacific apart, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and the USA are the other regions of the GSM Association.

Founded in 1987, the GSM Association has played a pivotal role in the development of GSM platform and global wireless industry.