UAE participates in the 21st Meeting of GCC Telecommunications, Information Technology and Post Ministers Committee

July 01, 2012: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), represented by a delegation headed Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), participated in the 21st Meeting of GCC Telecommunications, Information Technology and Post Ministers Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 20th June 2012. The meeting discussed a range of issues of interest to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, related to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

The UAE delegation comprised of officials from the TRA including Engineer Tariq Al Awadi, Executive Director of Spectrum and Engineer Nasser bin Hammad, Senior Manager of International Affairs, in addition to representatives from Emirates Post, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du).

H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General commented on the meeting: "Due to the convergence between sister states in the GCC, the cooperation between these states becomes a vital issue to all parties, as it contributes to promoting links between our countries, and garners the maximum benefits of sharing available expertise for the good of our people in GCC countries. Our participation in the meeting further demonstrates our commitment towards our brothers in GCC countries, and our interest to continue this cooperation in ICT fields. Taking into consideration the UAE's leading position in the ICT sector, we are always ready to provide our best experiences and knowledge in this field in order to promote ICT across all GCC countries."

He added: "We discussed during this ministerial meeting a number of important issues pertaining to telecommunications, internet, and post fields in GCC countries, in addition to reviewing the recommendations and suggestions of the 4th meeting of ICT Steering Committee held last month at the General Secretariat. We will also make decisions related to enhancing the levels of services provided, and tackling obstacles that may hinder the cooperation between ICT and post sectors in GCC countries."

Notably, the ministerial meeting was preceded with the GCC Telecommunications, Information Technology and Post Deputy Ministers held from 18-19 June 2012 at the General Secretariat in Al Riyadh. The meeting discussed several topics on the agenda of the ministerial meeting, and identified issues to be referred to the ministerial meeting for decision.  

The ministers meeting focused on a number of issues including the work of the legislation and regulation committee that covers a wide range of topics such as: the spread of Arabic content and the elimination of obstacles on the internet; the exchange of information related to ICT sectors indices in GCC countries; establishment of a specialized center to measure the level of development of ICT sectors;  dialogue with the European Union (EU); the transformation from IPV4 to IPV6; the effect of the internet on emerging generations; increase of international roaming rates among GCC countries; and the study of the establishment Gulf networks of the TRA in GCC countries, which was suggested by the UAE -represented by the TRA- and was widely welcomed by the ministers. The UAE and Bahrain were mandated to follow up with all developments of the study, suggest the organizational structure and mechanism of this network, and refer the outcomes to the coming legislation and regulation committee meeting.  

Other important topics discussed during the meeting included: operating broadband networks in GCC countries, new security and safety systems, the GCC plan for transitioning from analogue terrestrial broadcasting to digital broadcasting, mechanism of facilitating the move of radio communications amateurs among GCC countries, and the outcomes of the radio communication committee assembly meeting in 2012 and the World Radiocommunications Conference 2012. The ministers commended the positive role played by the UAE presiding over the World Radiocommunications Conference by Engineer Al Awadi. 

Before concluding the meeting, the ministers stressed the importance of GCC participation in important international events of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) including: ITU exhibition (Telecom Al Etihad), World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly, and World Conference on International Telecommunications, which will all be hosted and held during the 4th quarter of 2012 in the UAE for the first time. 

© Press Release 2012