TRA's two-day Middle East Spectrum Conference opens
MUSCAT -- Mohammed bin Nasser al Khusaibi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Economy and Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman (TRA), presided yesterday morning at the inauguration of the Middle East Spectrum Conference, held at InterContinental Muscat.
Addressing delegates during the opening ceremony, Al Khusaibi said: "The Government of the Sultanate of Oman, recognising the importance of the telecom sector in economic and social spheres, has decided to open competition and promote investment in this sector in order to meet the country's needs for basic telecommunications means and more advanced telecommunications.
"Telecommunication industry is moving forward faster than before due to the introduction of new advanced products daily. The ability to communicate anywhere, anytime, by anyone has become the driving force of electronic telecommunication sector worldwide. "Consequently, research teams are exploring new approaches and developing new telecommunication mechanisms that are capable of creating new generations of wireless networks."
He further added, "As we all know, the frequency spectrum is a natural resource with social, economic and cultural significance for all countries around the world. The radio telecom industry relies basically on the frequency spectrum which requires the countries and administrations to manage it successfully and plan its use in accordance with the ITU Recommendations and the international practices in this regard. "It also requires the countries and administrations to co-ordinate the distribution and use of spectrum among the countries and regional groups to ensure its continuity and its optimal use.
Consequently, this will contribute in building a basic infrastructure to facilitate, develop and use the radio telecom technology of the latest international standards with the aim of reinforcing its competition capabilities and promoting economic growth and living conditions. "Therefore, the task entrusted to the participants in this Conference entails co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of experience in order to make use of this vital resource in developing the telecom sector in the countries of the region and worldwide."
"Economic delivery of radio communication services and international roaming cannot be achieved except by harmonised utilisation of spectrum. Using frequency bands allocated for international services (eg mobile services) inside countries in a way that is not in line with the ITU Recommendations and the international trends does not only cause a massive loss of national resources but also delays introduction of popular telecommunication services inside the national market.
Therefore, allocation of spectrum bands according to the International Radio Regulations and international trends shall be immediately adhered to in order to speed up telecommunication industry growth." Future policies for spectrum management, the TRA Chairman further noted, shall focus on achieving maximum benefit from radio spectrum, making adequate provisions for public community services, encouraging use of efficient radio technologies and supporting government communications policy objectives.
"They shall also rely on market forces to ensure economically efficient use of spectrum and promote competition, adopting maximum flexibility to respond to market forces, assuring frequency availability in order to deliver new telecom techniques and services to our countries, ensuring domestic policies are consistent with world spectrum policies and attracting investments to the telecom sector."
Al Khusaibi described the conference as an event of "paramount importance" for the countries of the region, in view of adopting a policy to open up telecom sector market in accordance with the International Free Trade Agreement and other agreements. "The demand for mobile telecommunications services and broadband services licence is witnessing a growing increase.
However, the unavailability if spectrum is a major roadblock for opening up this sector. This requires vacating and re-planning of frequencies and making a balance between government and commercial utilisation in order to achieve this objective. Moreover, there is a need to provide frequencies for new services, which will certainly contribute to the economic and social growth in our countries," he added.
The line-up of speakers on the first day included Dr Mohammed Ali al Wahaibi, Under-Secretary for Communications, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Dr Amer al Rawas, Chief Executive Officer of Omantel, Prof Martin Cave of Warwich University, John Berry, Director of Spectrum Services at InterConnect Communications, and Tariq al Awadhi, Executive Director, Spectrum and International Affairs, Telecoms Regulatory Authority in the UAE.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
