More than 60 executives from 21 mobile operators and 16 mobile ecosystem companies representing 19 countries participated in the meeting of the WASL Working Group (Wholesale Agreements and Solutions LatAm, formerly BARG) held on 25 and 26 April in Panama City. WASL brings together experts from the mobile operators in Latin America in the areas of wholesale market and roaming and value added services. At this meeting participants exchanged good practices in topics including VoLTE interconnect, the evolution of billing, wholesale market practices and identity services such as Mobile Connect.
“We’re seeing a more flexible approach of the mobile industry in relation to designing the supply of wholesale and roaming services. Recent pressure on the roaming business to continually reduce rates is, paradoxically, generating renewed optimism through the emergence of a new understanding of the business in which, rather than a separate element, roaming is a key, integral component of operators’ complete range of services,” said Alexis Arancibia, Strategic Engagement Director, GSMA, and WASL coordinator.
One of the key topics of the meeting was the review of progress in VoLTE interoperability as a vital element for developing VoLTE roaming. Internet of Things (IoT) was also in the spotlight, with a review of case studies illustrating the major opportunity for the region’s mobile operators in this area.
Case studies from operators VIVO Brasil and Belize Telemedia were well received. Represented by their leading business area executives, the operators gave an overview of how they are addressing roaming business in the context of the new reality.
Other important topics covered during the meeting were:
- GSMA’s Mobile Connect Identity Service
- The Evolution of Invoicing
- Next generation data roaming
- IMS Cloud Implementation
- eSIM Card and Remote Subscription
- Wholesale Roaming Billing Verification
- Secure Signalling Network
“The WASL Group is an ideal forum for operators to jointly assess these new scenarios of wholesale and roaming business,” Mr Arancibia added. The next meeting of WASL working group experts will be held during GSMA M360 Latin America 2017, which will be on from 31 October to 2 November in Bogotá, Colombia.
Resources
- Presentations on Infocentre
- Image gallery