Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

employees, which were stipulated in BSI guidelines. The guidelines The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced
included a set of directives related to business continuity during a the allocation of a new frequency band that allows UAE telecom
global emergency, developed by experts from various sectors. The operators to expand the application of 5G, in line with the
guidelines provide a general framework for safe working, represent decisions of the World Radio communication Conference 2019
a comprehensive source of globally agreed best practices, (WRC-19), which was a pivotal stage in the transition towards
support comprehensive risk assessment and provide practical 5G, as it allocated frequency bands for countries to be used in
examples of risk management methods. It helps organizations implementing the new technology. With this development, the UAE
manage infectious disease risks. In his speech at the opening has taken a new step towards comprehensive implementation of
of the virtual meeting, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director 5G, which is a key enabler of smart cities and the applications
General and Head of the UAE Digital Government, welcomed of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Frequencies in the millimeter
the British Ambassador and the attendees, and added: “Due to wave range between 24.25 - 27.5 GHz have been allocated to
COVID-19 pandemic, we found ourselves as a global community the development of 5G networks, which strengthens the UAE’s
facing a critical test that requires quick adaptation and flexibility leading position in the region, as the first in the Middle East and
in order to continue life in all aspects. In the UAE, we are proud North Africa to allocate this range. This will help the deploy and
to be among the few countries that have been able to continue use of 5G, which will support various sectors and institutions in
working, learning, and purchasing remotely since the early days their endeavor to use emerging technologies and their various
of the pandemic. TRA has been at the forefront of government applications such as self-driving cars, robots, smart industry, big
entities that have worked to support this trend. In terms of its data, and the Internet of things. The band will be allocated in two
responsibility for one of the most important sectors, which is the phases based on the equipment availability. The first phase is
ICT sector, we are proud to obtain this international certificate scheduled to start on the first of September 2020, in which the
as the first in the region to meet the standards of BSI for Safe frequency band 26.5-27.5 GHz will be allocated to the operators.
Working during COVID-19.” TRA has taken many measures to The second phase will start in the third quarter of 2021, through
ensure a safe workplace during the last period, as it was one of which 1 GHz will be allocated per operator in the (25.5 - 27.5
the first entities to implement remote work on March 26, 2020, GHz) range. The new 1 GHz bandwidth will provide each of the
as part of its efforts to enhance precautionary measures in the mobile operators with an opportunity to enhance and develop
ICT sector and avoid physical interaction between its employees. wireless broadband services using 5G technologies in terms
TRA also developed plans for the process of gradually returning of speed and data volume compared to 4G. It will also provide
to work, and took all effective measures to protect employees other additional features such as higher rates to transfer data
during work. It reorganized office space for employees to ensure per second and enhanced communications capacity per square
social distancing, provided transparent protection barriers, and kilometer, while ensuring the quality of services and increasing
maintained remote meetings. TRA issued a guide to return to work performance efficiency compared to previous generations. TRA
in light of emergency conditions, which stipulated the gradual also confirmed that 5G deployment in the UAE by the licensees
return to work in TRA offices in successive stages. The first phase complies with Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic
included the return of 30% of employees, excluding pregnant Fields approved by recognized international organizations
women, people of determination, senior citizens and residents, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International
in addition to those with chronic diseases, mothers who care for Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP),
children from the ninth grade and below. The guide includes the and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
procedures that the employees must follow from the moment they and in line with TRA’s framework for Non-Ionizing Radiation
leave home until reaching TRA building, arriving at their office and Limits for Telecommunication Networks. Commenting on this
ending with leaving TRA office. TRA has also implemented all decision, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General,
health protection measures, starting from the moment of entering said: “5G technologies play a vital role in developing smart cities
TRA offices until leaving, by placing health check devices at the and societies, as they accelerate access to a more digitally
entrances to examine the employees upon entry, and distributing connected world. These technologies have enormous capacity
the necessary sterilizers and sanitary tools in the corridors, that can be combined with other technologies such as artificial
offices and bathrooms. TRA has implemented a set of sterilization intelligence and big data, in order to enhance the digitalization
procedures outside working hours, such as the employees’ process and enrich the digital economy and infrastructure in
adherence to leaving work on time in order to sterilize the place, the UAE." H.E. Al Mansoori added: “This decision comes in line
sterilizing TRA’s buildings on a daily basis using disinfectants and with the UAE Strategy for 5G and beyond (2020-2025), as the
sterilizers, as well as ultraviolet rays. Furthermore, TRA organized provision of frequency spectrum for 5G contributes to building a
virtual awareness workshops for its employees, in cooperation high-standard global communication platform, and enabling the
with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, on the best ways to UAE to use and apply the latest ICT, to provide global standards
protect against COVID-19, during which the lecturers provided services, achieve long-term social and economic benefits in
advice on prevention measures and protection from the risk of various areas such as manufacturing, transportation, healthcare,
infection. TRA implemented the Federal Authority for Government and education. Moreover, this initiative comes as a result of
Human Resources decision on the return of federal government international coordination and technical studies that have
employees to the workplace at a rate of 100% as of July 5, 2020, lasted more than 4 years, which highlights the importance of
with adherence to all necessary preventive measures. international coordination and harmony in providing access to
(October 24, 2020) tra.gov.ae this important part of the spectrum.” Al Mansoori stressed that
the UAE is always striving to strengthen the telecommunications
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