Page 128 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Because we believe that knowledge is a right for everyone, we to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity in the world, and modernizing
changed the camp regulatory system and allowed participation the network to offer the best in class telecom services. Both
from outside the country. Therefore, our virtual camp is one of operators launched specialized packages and promotions giving
many projects that started locally, then soon became global. On customers an opportunity to enjoy higher speeds in their home.
this occasion, I would like to thank and appreciate our partners There were further improvements and upgrades made on the
in this ambitious social project. I extend a special thanking to network capacity while also boosting international data capacity
parents, who played an essential role to achieve this wonderful to enable consumers with the best experience when they, learn,
success.” The closing ceremony agenda included announcement work and get entertained from home. (July 17, 2021) tdra.gov.ae
of winners in the general course and advanced course (Top6). The
student explained their projects. Winners of the advanced course President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has
(Bottom 6). TDRA has honored parents for their great efforts to issued a Federal Decree appointing Majed Sultan Al Mesmar
help their children and achieve success of the camp. The camp as the Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital
is held virtually for the second year in a row, to complement the Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Al Mesmar has served
successful experience witnessed last year, in compliance with the as the Deputy Director-General of the Telecommunications Sector
precautionary measures to protect participating students from since joining TDRA in 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Science
COVID-19. This round is a continuation of the successes achieved in Electrical Engineering. Al Mesmar has profound working
by TDRA in previous camps, and an example of its commitment experience of more than 30 years in telecommunications and
to its social responsibilities towards students in the UAE society. regulation, holding various senior-level management posts at
It provided them with the necessary skills related to smart city, several telecom operators locally, regionally and internationally,
safe use of technology, social communication, innovative design, such as Etisalat Group’s Senior Vice President – Special Projects
creativity, future shaping and other activities. (August 24, 2021) zawya.com (UAE), Chief Technical Officer at Mobily (Saudi Arabia) and Chief
Operating Officer at Etisalat DB Telecom India Pvt Ltd. Since 2017,
UAE is the only country from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Al Mesmar has been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
region among the illustrious list of top 20 countries globally in ICT Fund. He is also an active participant in many international
the fixed broadband index with the fastest average download events, including those of the International Telecommunication
speeds in May 2021, according to the latest data from Ookla®, Union (ITU), and was elected as Chairman of the Plenipotentiary
a global leader in fixed broadband and mobile network Conference 2018 (PP18), which is the highest authority in the ITU.
testing applications, data and analysis. Commenting on this He also chaired the World Summit on the Information Society
achievements H.E Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar Director General (WSIS) in 2018, and represented the UAE in several Summit
of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory sessions. Al Mesmar succeeds Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, who
Authority-TDRA said: “This global achievement is a testimony to was once acting as TDRA’s Director-General. Talal Humaid
UAE leadership’s vision and commitment in bringing the country Belhoul, Chairman of TDRA’s Board of Directors, praised and
to the forefront taking a lead in the ICT sector while being the recognized the major role played by Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori
most advanced country in digital transformation. With the joint and his remarkable efforts in developing the performance of TDRA
efforts of both operators we aim to bring the UAE among the top and strengthening its leadership and outstanding position among
10 globally in the Speed test Global Index from Ookla. This will government entities in the UAE. Belhoul also commended what
uplift the national performance, enabling the ICT aspirations of TDRA has achieved during recent years in establishing UAE’s
the leadership. I hereby thank telecom service providers in the UAE place as a leading country in the ICT sector. "Over the last period
for their relentless efforts towards this achievement, which is part and under the management of Hamad Al Mansoori, TDRA has
of UAE's preparations for the age of Fourth Industrial Revolution made great strides not only in the telecommunications sector,
and the Artificial Intelligence” UAE reached an average download but also in digital transformation, as it aptly played its regulatory
speed of 180 Mbps in May 2021, from the January 2021 average and enabling role, in line with strategic variables and general
of 125Mbps in the fixed broadband SpeedtestTM results. This trends of the UAE. TDRA has been a strong supporter of UAE’s
massive increase was mainly due to the corporate program and efforts towards realizing the concepts of 4IR, smart cities and
initiatives taken by Etisalat and du in 2021 to boost UAE’s fixed development based on the digital knowledge economy," he said.
broadband ranking. This led to a significant rise in the country’s (July 14, 2021) zawya.com
broadband ranking, thrusting the UAE by 12 positions from 28th
rank in January 2021 to 16th in the global index in May 2021, to The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory
be among the top 20 countries globally, whilst UAE was ranked Authority (TDRA) has been awarded the Best Entity Award for
first on the index in the wider MEA region. The high speeds on the the “Best Procurement Team” and “Best Sustainable Service”
fixed broadband network are a prerequisite to delivering the best categories within the “Best Business Award (BBA)”, which is one
and most advanced services in the UAE as it enters the age of of the most prestigious awards in the United Kingdom. With this
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and the fourth achievement, TDRA becomes the first federal entity that receives
industrial revolution. This is also a major contributing factor to these two awards in the field of procurement and supply at the
the well-being, economic wealth and social prosperity of a nation. regional level. The Best Business Awards (BBA) aims to identify
Etisalat and du have worked towards continuously providing the the most successful institutions in the public and private sectors,
best customer experience with the highest penetration of fiber- and highlight the innovation and creativity of the winning teams

128 JUN-AUG 2021