His Excellency Patrice Paoli, the French Ambassador to the UAE, inaugurated a forum in Abu Dhabi today dedicated to greater cooperation between UAE and French companies in the telecommunications industry.
Titled ‘Building Today’s Next Generation Network’, the forum was also opened by Jean Pierre Giraud, President of the French Business Group. The French Ambassador delivered the keynote address, and Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, made the keynote speech.
H.E Patrice Paoli said: “There are 1000 telecoms and IT companies in France, and most are present in foreign markets. Around 120,000 employees are linked to the industry. French companies are established partners of Etisalat in international development abroad, and we are exploring extended opportunities overseas.”
The French Business Group in Abu Dhabi is hosting the two-day gathering at the Hilton Hotel with the support of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and UBIFRANCE, the French agency for international business development. National telecoms operators Etisalat and du are main sponsors.
Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of the TRA said the business model for Mobile TV would be introduced in the UAE in 2007 with an independent body coordinating content for broadcast. Al Ghanim reiterated that VOIP would only be licensed in the UAE through established operators Etisalat and du in the first phase.
The UAE will host the seventh Global Symposium for Regulators in Dubai in February next year, Al Ghanim said. The event will focus on issues concerning next generation networks and welcome nearly 200 representatives of international regulators, government ministries and the Secretary General of the ITU.
Osman Sultan, CEO of du, addressed delegates on the challenges and opportunities facing the UAE’s second national telecoms operator. The forum’s first day also welcomed presentations by leading French companies Alcatel, Bull, Thomson and EADS. Greenwich Consulting is the moderator of the forum.
Salem Al Balooshi, Manager Engineering of Internet Protocol Development at Etisalat, will open proceedings tomorrow with an address titled ‘The evolution of broadband infrastructure in the UAE’.
In a joint conference session, senior representatives of Alcatel Space and Thales will discuss their alliance in the space industry, and Gilles Merle of VIACESS will close the morning session with a presentation on IPTV.
Also on day two, Thomson will explore the potential of mobile TV – and David Rivard, Regional Director of Marais, will present on the laying of underground telecommunications networks. Aida Kalla, Regional Head of Structured Finance at BNP Paribas, will share the financial industry’s perspective on media and telecoms investment.
Jean Pierre Giraud, President of the French Business Group, said: “While the UAE market is well served today, we see tremendous potential to introduce new services, deliver greater efficiencies, and capitalise on the synergies between French and UAE business. Now is the perfect time to allow both French and UAE companies to share perspectives on the way forward for telecoms.”
The French Business Group, a private, non-profit association, was created in Abu Dhabi in 1974 and was officially registered in 1996 by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Abu Dhabi Municipality. It is affiliated to the French Chambers of Commerce Association (UCCIFE), which is present in more than 90 countries worldwide.
The FBG’s main objective is to promote French interests in Abu Dhabi through the exchange of information and by representing French businesses that have no presence in Abu Dhabi. Members of the FBG include both French and UAE companies. The French Business Group is run by a 12-member Board of Directors, and its President is Jean Pierre Giraud.
Under the Patronage of H.E Patrice Paoli, Ambassador of France in the UAE: Forum on Telecoms and Multimedia
‘Building Today’s Next Generation Network’
Tuesday, November 28
9:00 to 9:30 Registration
9:35 to 9:40 Official Opening – Jean Pierre Giraud, President of the French Business Group
9:40 to 9:45 Keynote address – H.E Patrice Paoli, French Ambassador
9:45 to 10:15 Keynote speech – Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of the TRA
10:15 to 10:45 Osman Sultan, CEO, du – ‘The transformation of the telecommunication sector in the UAE. Challenges and opportunities for the launch of the second national operator.’
10.45 to 11.15 Pierre Beaufils, CEO of GREENWICH International Group – ‘IPTV over DSL, the best of two worlds’
11.15 to 11.30 Q&A
11.30 to 12:00 Networking
12:00 to 12:30 Djamel Bousaber, Senior Consultant of Alcatel – ‘User centric broadband: how Alcatel is enhancing the end-user experience.’
12.30 to 13:00 Stephane Choquet, Regional Sales Director THOMSON System – ‘Integrated Triple Play Solution for Quick Time-to-Market’
13:00 to 13:30 Lionel Touillier, Business Development Manager, BULL Telecommunications and Multimedia – ‘Bull, Industrial Integrator of Next Generation Infrastructures’
13:30 to 14:00 Topi Kinnunen, Sales Director, Middle East Area, EADS Secure Networks – ‘Trends in secure radio network implementation, global and regional perspectives’
14:00 to 14:20 Q&A
14:20 Lunch
Wednesday, November 29
9:00 to 9:20 Registration
9:20 to 9:30 Mediator (GREENWICH Consulting) – summary of yesterday’s presentations
9:30 to 10:00 Saleem Al Balooshi, Manager Engineering Internet Protocol Development, Etisalat – ‘The evolution of broadband infrastructure in the UAE’
10:00 to 10:50 Joint Conference: Paul Gabla, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Alcatel Space, and Dominique Jouanneau, Satcom Marketing Manager, Land & Joint Systems, Thales – ‘Convergence of French expertise in the satellite industry’
10:50 to 11:20 Gilles Merle, Key Accounts Director for France, Middle East, North Africa, VIACCESS – ‘IPTV the future has arrived. Content security for convergence distribution’
11:20 to 11:40 Q&A
12:10 to 12:40 Yann Courqueux, Director Business Development, THOMSON Grass Valley – ‘Leveraging Technology to Improve Mobile TV Business Plans’
12:40 to 13:10 David Rivard, Regional Director, MARAIS – ‘Innovative methods for laying underground telecommunications networks’
13:10 to 13:40 Aida Kalla, Regional Head of Structured Finance, BNP Paribas – ‘A Focused Media & Telecom Sector Approach’
14:00 Lunch
