In recent years, Vodafone has been able to extend its reach into countries where the group does not hold an equity stake in a local network operator. This is done by entering into 'Partner Network' arrangements, under the terms of which Vodafone and its partners co-operate in the development and marketing of global services under dual brand logos. Vodafone leverages its global brand value, scale and purchasing power and has persuaded operators - from Afghanistan to Uruguay - that this arrangment is to the advantage of both sides in the deal.

The Partner Markets programme is headed up by Hatem Dowidar, who has been in the role since June 2007, before which time he was CEO of a Vodafone subsidiary in Malta, one of the more recent European Union accession countries. Dowidar's responsibility now extends across a number of other countries which have joined the EU during the first decade of the twenty-first centry - of the forty-two Vodafone Partner Markets, nine can be found in Central and Eastern Europe. Of these, five are part of the mobilkom austria stable, and Vodafone's partnership with the Telekom Austria-owned mobile group also extends to the Austrian operation. A later addition to Vodafone's roster of European partners was the Bite Group, the owners of operators in Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania. However, although Bite Group joined the Vodafone party more recently than Austria's mobilkom, it is a newer addition to the Telekom Austria sphere of influence that is Vodafone's latest Partner Market in the region. As recently as March of this year, Vodafone's reach extended further still when mobilkom's new Serbian subsidiary joined the fold.

A year into his current role, Dowidar is therefore ideally positioned to offer insights to CEE-based telecoms industry executives on the challenges and opportunities facing all operators in the region. Informa Telecoms & Media were therefore delighted this week to confirm the participation of Mr Dowidar at CEE Com, the region's annual de facto meeting place for every kind of telecoms operator and service provider. Taking place this year in Prague (17-18 September), the conference and exhibition, now in its twelfth year, is drawing participants from a region that is now very different from the one served in the event's early years.

Mobile markets across the CEE region have caught up with the over-100% penetration rates of the continent's western states. 3G networks have been deployed in most CEE markets and it is becoming harder to find ways in which these two European regions can meaningfully be said to vary. These saturated, highly competitive markets are tough environments in which to satisfy shareholders. Operators in Europe, CEE included, face a seemingly inevitable slowdown in revenue and profit growth and the stagnation. The contraction of voice revenues particularly has made it a pressing matter somehow to maximise opportunities around mobile broadband and data services. Vodafone's Dowidar will be invited to address these concerns in the Keynote Address with which he will be opening the conference.

Other confirmed speakers include:

For more information on this year's CEE Com event, please vist:

www.ComWorldSeries.com/cee