The UAE Supreme Committee for the Supervision of the Telecommunications Sector has given green light for UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to sign a full service license with Emirates Telecommunications Corporation -Etisalat, a step that aims to the restructuring of the telecommunications sector as per the Telecom Law. Etisalat will continue to offer a full range of telecommunications services, HE Mr. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori has signed yesterday the license certificate where HE Mr. Mohamed Al Ghanim, TRA Director General and HE Mr. Mohamed Al Qemzi, CEO of Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) both signed the licence, sealing a milestone in the history of the telecom sector in UAE.
Commenting on this occasion, HE. Sultan Al Mansoori, Minister of the Government sector Development and Chairman of Telecom Supreme Committee stated by saying: “this step highlights yet another smooth move forward toward a telecom market opening in UAE. The UAE government has invested a lot in this sector and is pleased to see a birth of solid beginning for market openness in telecom service provision in UAE.” He added by saying:”Etisalat has been an excelling giant in ICT services provision in UAE; as a result, we currently boast a high rate of about 55% internet penetration in the region, and a remarkable GSM penetration rate of about 98%. Hence, UAE currently ranks high in telecom services provision, not only regionally, but also internationally”.
Al Mansoori, elaborated by saying: “TRA has been working diligently to protect, nurture, and develop a healthy path for competition in the ICT sector in UAE. Therefore, transparent policies and regulations have been one of TRA’s priorities; it is evident that TRA has done a lot and has a long way to go still.” Al Mansoori concluded by saying: “The UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) is still reviewing with the Supreme Committee the royalty program. Until fair, transparent, and straightforward details of this issue are drawn out, Etisalat will continue to pay royalty to the government”.
About TRA Supreme Committee:
The Supreme Committee was formed by UAE federal government, and is headed by H.E. Sultan Al Mansoori, UAE minister of Government Sector Development. The rest of the Supreme Committee members are H.E. Ahmad Al Hamiri, representative of the President Office and H.E. Saeed Al Ghafli, and Ahmad Bin Byat, representative of the Vice-President office.
About TRA Board of Directors:
The supreme committee appointed the aboard of directors for TRA whose membership currently includes H.E. Mohamed Al Qamzi as Chairman of the Board, H.E Essam Al Tamimi, H.E Nasser Bin Obood, H.E Ahmad Al Hebaishi Al Mazrouie and TRA Director General H.E. Mohamed Al Ghanim.
About TRA-UAE:
The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) was set up by government decree No. 3 of 2003. The TRA is a regulatory body that oversees the telecom sector and the licensees in the UAE in accordance with the terms of Legislative Decree no.3 of 2003, and implements the instructions of the Supreme Committee for Telecommunications.
The TRA is an independent body and its duties include ensuring telecom services are available to all provinces of the country, assuring that the licensed operators fully follow established rules and regulations, protecting the interests of subscribers, developing telecom sector and helping to implement the best and most advanced technologies.
