Visit to agree general framework for future cooperation

Abu Dhabi, 14th January 2006: A delegation of representatives from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Sultanate of Oman has visited UAELAB, a business unit of Emirates Telecommunications Corporation- Etisalat. The visit focused on strengthening cooperation and laying a general framework for regional operators to benefit from Etisalat's experience in testing and type-approval of telecommunications equipment.

At the beginning of the 2-day visit, Yahya Mohammed Al Kamali, Acting Senior Engineer at UAELAB, gave a presentation about UAELAB and its processes for testing and type-approval of various telecom devices. Its regulatory activities and processes such as reporting and test certificate issuance for device manufacturers were also described in detail for the members of the visiting delegation.

Al Kamali said: "This visit was initiated by the UAE TRA in their efforts to reach out to other regulatory authorities in the GCC, and to help them all benefit from the sharing of technical expertise. The UAELAB has been specially featured in the agenda because of the Lab's experience of approximately 5 years in testing and type-approving telecom devices for the Etisalat network, and comparing them to international standards."

"We look forward to when the UAELAB will be the sole point of testing and calibration for devices imported to the Sultanate of Oman and other GCC states, and to perfecting a unified approach to standards and processes across the region. The UAELAB has earned a reputation as a professional and reliable equipment test facility, and we are happy to extend our experience to the entire region."

The visit covered all aspects of type-approval of telecommunications equipment like standards implementation, keeping up with international trends, and testing devices for GSM, GPRS, and land networks. Electrical Safety of Telecom systems that affect humans such as radiation from devices or their electric power were also presented.

Eng Abdullah Salem Al Shanfary, Manager- Equipment Type Approval & Pricing, TRA, Oman, praised the expertise of UAE's TRA and Etisalat in testing and calibration of telecom equipment. He said: "The aim behind this visit is to discuss and agree a framework of cooperation between the Omani and UAE TRA to save costs and achieve mutual benefits. We in the Sultanate of Oman wanted to benefit from UAELAB's experience in testing and calibration, and in identifying and aligning with the latest technologies worldwide."

UAELAB tests various new devices per month, and ensures that they are fully compatible with the International standards and Etisalat network. Equipment tested includes fixed line telephones, mobile phones, fax machines, modems, routers, broadband modems and other wired and wireless customer premises devices.

-Ends-

Press release issued by Corporate Communications Department - Etisalat

For further media information please contact:
Ahmed Bin Ali
Manager Corporate Communications
Tel: 02 6182173
Fax: 02 6334448
PRD@etisalat.ae

Press Release 2006