16 January 2011
MUSCAT: Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) continued carrying out its inspection campaign of all companies and establishments involved with the telecom sector. The main target were those dealers who are selling telecom equipment. The objective of campaign is to ascertain their adherence to the Telecom Act, regulations and decisions implementing its provisions. TRA inspection teams recently caught a dealer selling unapproved telecom equipment (cloned devices), where 11 different models of unapproved telecom devices were found.
A violation report was accordingly issued to the offender and a fine was imposed for each non-approved device as well as confiscation of all devices.
It is noteworthy to mention that TRA has launched a campaign to type-approve all the equipment being dealt with by the telecom sector, including those imported for the local market or by companies and institutions to ensure safety of users and employees of operators and their networks.
Type-approval also enables TRA to curb electromagnetic interference and keep it within the lowest reasonable levels. It also helps to ensure that frequency spectrum is used in accordance with the National Frequency Plan.
Ensuring quality
The TRA is also aiming at ensuring improved quality and high performance of type-approved telecom equipment and at the same time mitigating the difficulties faced by users. Within the framework of the campaign, the inspection team emphasised to the dealer the importance of abiding by the Telecom Act and the decisions issued toward its execution and stressed on the need of obtaining type approval certificate from TRA prior to dealing in selling such telecom equipment.
Hence, TRA has issued orders to all telecom dealers to deal only with type-approved equipment.
The type-approval certificate is issued to a dealer or company applying for it. Any other company or dealer is not permitted to import or deal in the same approved model prior to obtaining the type approval certificate from TRA or the consent of the company owning the certificate. In this regard, the TRA issued guidelines in June 2010 to put approval marks on the type-approved equipment for all telecom equipment in the market. This will enable consumers and legitimate dealers to easily select the devices approved by the TRA.
MUSCAT: Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) continued carrying out its inspection campaign of all companies and establishments involved with the telecom sector. The main target were those dealers who are selling telecom equipment. The objective of campaign is to ascertain their adherence to the Telecom Act, regulations and decisions implementing its provisions. TRA inspection teams recently caught a dealer selling unapproved telecom equipment (cloned devices), where 11 different models of unapproved telecom devices were found.
A violation report was accordingly issued to the offender and a fine was imposed for each non-approved device as well as confiscation of all devices.
It is noteworthy to mention that TRA has launched a campaign to type-approve all the equipment being dealt with by the telecom sector, including those imported for the local market or by companies and institutions to ensure safety of users and employees of operators and their networks.
Type-approval also enables TRA to curb electromagnetic interference and keep it within the lowest reasonable levels. It also helps to ensure that frequency spectrum is used in accordance with the National Frequency Plan.
Ensuring quality
The TRA is also aiming at ensuring improved quality and high performance of type-approved telecom equipment and at the same time mitigating the difficulties faced by users. Within the framework of the campaign, the inspection team emphasised to the dealer the importance of abiding by the Telecom Act and the decisions issued toward its execution and stressed on the need of obtaining type approval certificate from TRA prior to dealing in selling such telecom equipment.
Hence, TRA has issued orders to all telecom dealers to deal only with type-approved equipment.
The type-approval certificate is issued to a dealer or company applying for it. Any other company or dealer is not permitted to import or deal in the same approved model prior to obtaining the type approval certificate from TRA or the consent of the company owning the certificate. In this regard, the TRA issued guidelines in June 2010 to put approval marks on the type-approved equipment for all telecom equipment in the market. This will enable consumers and legitimate dealers to easily select the devices approved by the TRA.
© Times of Oman 2011
