The 9th Arab Telecom & Internet Forum (ATIF 2009) took place on 15-16 April 2009 at Habtoor Grand Hotel in Beirut, Lebanon, and was meant to gather industry policy makers, leaders and experts to navigate topics and issues facing the industry and operators in the region, including investment opportunities and the availability of finance, mergers and acquisitions, and Telecom convergence with other sectors.

Main topics on the agenda of the forum were:

• Challenges facing the telecom industry and operators.
• Broadband: Telecom convergence and innovation with other sectors.
• ICT development: Is ICT a potential area to re-energize investments?
• The new phase in the industry in terms of finance and competition: Measures to protect investments and consumers.
• New technologies: By the time 3G is deployed will it be time for LTE? Has WiMax delivered on the promise of three years ago?
• Telecom CEOs and Globalization: Challenges and opportunities & mergers and acquisitions.
• Contribution of ITU in the development of ICT in the Arab Region.
• Ministers’ Discussion Panel: An open discussion with Arab telecom ministers.

The 9th Arab Telecom & Internet Forum (ATIF 2009) was organized by Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal, in association with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and ARABSAT, and in partnership with the Ministry of Telecommunications in Lebanon, and coincided with the general assembly of Arabsat.