The overwhelming response was primarily because of the common and relevant problem that operators normally share and face across the region. In this regard major developments in the CDMA2000 roaming industry are changing the landscape of traditional mobile revenues, such as "open" inter-standard roaming between CDMA2000 and GSM networks. A successful roaming package no longer relies simply on allowing a consumer to use their handset abroad; but on offering a comprehensive, enjoyable, seamless, and affordable user experience. Customers roaming expectations are becoming more demanding, and service providers need to ensure that they are able to clearly communicate what a user can expect in terms of service availability when they travel abroad - and then actually deliver on the promise.

Although, GSM networks are offering international roaming services around the world for quite sometime now but it is still not available for CDMA standard customers in the region. In this context, the first initiative of drowning the many obstacles that roaming industry deals with has been taken by Central Asian Cellular Forum in cooperation with Qualcomm Inc., which supports and promotes 3G CDMA in the region.

The two-day workshop provided the participants with an open opportunity to receive an additional knowledge base about the latest developments in CDMA and technological advancements taking place in this domain.

Since, CACF's efforts are always directed in the broader context of addressing CDMA technology; therefore one of the underlined purposes of the workshop was also to see the technical developments unfolding in line with the requirements of the latest 3G services. Hence, not only local companies but the representatives of the Third Generation service's international community also participated in the workshop and exchanged their views and experiences for shaping the industry.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of CACF, Mr. Khalid Khan revealed that “This is the first workshop in the region of such scale and subject”.  –

Taking advantage of the opportunity many representatives from local mobile companies’ brain stormed their queries and discussed issues relevant to their operations with their experienced foreign colleagues.”