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HE Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim

UAE, ABU DHABI - Telecoms & IT

Drive Core

Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)

Bio

HE Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim holds a degree in Engineering from Etisalat University College and subsequently joined Etisalat Corporation, ascending quickly through several managerial posts. He joined the Thuraya Telecommunications Company in 1997, eventually becoming Senior Manager of Product Development. In 2004, he was entrusted with establishing a telecoms regulatory body, quickly setting up the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), of which he is the Director General.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is tasked with ensuring that the UAE becomes a regional ICT hub. How would you evaluate your performance so far? The TRA is building the […]

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is tasked with ensuring that the UAE becomes a regional ICT hub. How would you evaluate your performance so far?

The TRA is building the core ICT regulatory framework for the UAE’s burgeoning knowledge economy, and regulates the UAE’s telecommunications sector to ensure that competition provides affordable and reliable telecommunications services. The TRA licensed Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Corporation (du) as the UAE’s second national operator in 2006. Since commencing service delivery in 2007, du has largely focused on the mobile communications market and, by the end of 2012, it had secured almost 50% of the mobile market in terms of subscriber numbers. The positive effects of competition in the UAE telecommunications sector are now being witnessed by customers, who enjoy some of the lowest mobile tariffs in the GCC. In terms of fixed-line telecommunications services, the UAE has some of the most advanced networks in the world with a very high penetration of fiber to home connections over which the licensees deliver innovative triple-play (voice, internet, and TV) services to customers. The policies of the TRA and the advanced networks deployed in the UAE enable modern UAE society to function with a high level of connectivity and affordable and reliable telecommunications services. In short, I am proud of the TRA’s performance so far.

Many internet users still connect by dial-up because of the prices attached to broadband plans. Is there an opportunity here for regulation to improve services and prices for consumers?

The TRA supervises the development of the UAE’s online infrastructure has enabled it to become one of the world’s most connected societies with 72% of households having access to broadband internet. The TRA is working closely with the licensees to implement a form of network sharing known as bit stream access. This will increase competition in the fixed services market and exert downward pressure on a range of fixed-line services, including broadband.

The TRA has been running the My Number, My Identity program over past few months. Could you tell us a little bit about the program, and why it is encouraged?

This campaign is in line with our continuous efforts to protect the interests and privacy of mobile users, and is based on studies and surveys that indicated an increase in civil and criminal cases. These are due to certain mobile subscribers giving away their SIM cards to other users who may misuse the number, resulting in serious legal or financial issues for the actual owners. The TRA took several steps to organize registration processes and requirements for mobile phone services provided by the two licensees. The TRA launched the My Number, My Identity campaign in collaboration with the licensees, aiming to increase awareness of the new registration procedures. The campaign highlights the importance of the mobile subscribers’ role in protecting their SIM cards.

“The UAE’s online infrastructure has enabled it to become one of the world’s most connected societies. “

The TRA has encouraged telecoms providers to introduce mobile number portability (MNP). Why is this important?

MNP will allow the customers to retain their mobile number when switching network operators, granting them the freedom to choose their preferred network operator without worrying about their number changing. At the same time, MNP will enhance competition among network operators, and hence enhance services. MNP will be to the benefit of the end customer in general.

At a 2013 GCC meeting, the TRA proposed the creation of the .arab domain name. What potential does this have?

The internet today has labels representing countries. The League of Arab States and the TRA envision .arab to serve the entire Arab region. It will create new opportunities for businesses and individuals unifying us on the internet. We are at the birth of a new era and are poised to fully support it. We believe .arab has very strong potential for success.

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