Page 47 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UAE’s TDRA in Move to Develop ICT for Smart Transport

The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory
Authority (TDRA) has made field measurements to develop criteria for
compatibility between International Mobil Telecommunications (IMT)
and Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R). The
purpose of the measurements, the first of their kind in the Middle East,
is to guarantee good quality of telecommunication services provided
to individuals travelling by trains and that railway services are affected.
TDRA is taking proactive steps to enhance the readiness of the ICT sector
for future smart transportation and improve traffic management. These
proactive steps are aimed to provide high-quality services and enhance
the well-being of society members. Such measurements will enable train
passengers to obtain high-quality communication and Internet services.
They will help detect and neutralize any harmful interference that may
lead to disruption or affect the quality of the communication services.
Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of Spectrum Affairs said: “The TDRA
is keen to preserve and invest the frequency spectrum resources in the
most appropriate way and provide the best services for the happiness of TDRA, to carry out these measurements. This assignment
all of the Emirati society members. Competent teams in TDRA monitor stems from the high trust placed in and national cadres
frequency spectrum using the latest technologies to prevent any harmful of TDRA. The study included field measurements of all
interference affecting the telecommunication services. “Today, through bands designated for mobile services, such as 2G, 3G,
these measurements, we have ensured the compatibility of IMT systems and 4G. Etihad train route in the Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi,
with GSM-Railway, which helps provide the best services without any was chosen to conduct a study of the mutual impact
conflict or harmful interference among systems used. The positive results of the two systems, i.e. IMT and GSM- R. The study
we have obtained confirm the UAE's readiness for the future of smart concluded that the standards used at the current time can
transportation, and that the UAE possesses advanced infrastructure to guarantee efficient work of the two systems without any
serve this vital sector." These measurements are part of an assignment harmful interferences. Furthermore, the current standards
from the Technical Committee of the GCC Council Telecommunications guarantee sufficient frequency ranges, broadcasting
Technical Office to TDRA. The committee requested to form a small power of 30 to 50 watts, continuous coordination between
GCC team headed by Saleh Al Masabi, Director of Spectrum Services at service providers.

Bahrain Plans Multimillion-Dollar Data Hub to Boost Digital Transformation

of Arab World

A new multimillion-dollar regional data center is set to be built digital transformation solutions, servicing Arab League states. GS
in Bahrain to promote collective digital transformation across the Murthy, founder & executive chairman, ATDXT Group, said: “We
Arab world. The hub’s aim will be to help evolving local economies are delighted to partner with the Arab League and incubate the
and enrich the lives of common people in the Arab world. The Arab first of its many multi-million-dollar regional hubs, in Bahrain. The
League’s Arab Federation for Digital Economy (AFDE) entered focus of this initiative will remain to be on digital transformation
into a memorandum of understanding with ATDXT LLC, a digital enablement, that will improve competitiveness of the Arab
transformation company, headquartered in the UAE on Sept. 1. nations, and foster their integration into the global economy. We
The launch of the first- of-its-kind collaboration, will enable the are confident that our best-in-class skill development initiative,
new data center to focus on localized data protection, enhanced focused on cutting edge technologies, will create immense job
security, and rendering digital transformation solutions. The opportunities and future technology leaders across the Arab
initiative’s main hub in Bahrain will serve all member states of the nations.” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-
Arab League. All member countries partaking in the initiative can Zayani said: “I appreciate the ATDXT Group for choosing the
leverage these solutions hosted in Bahrain, which is a key driver Kingdom of Bahrain to be the digital transformation solutions
behind the Gulf’s overall digital economy transformation efforts. hub, reflecting the excellence of the investment environment in
These solutions will be focused on supporting both government Bahrain and the many facilities they provide to investors. This
and private sector entities in Arab League member states, with partnership will enable us to contribute to the transformation
the aim of improving the competitiveness of Arab economies and of the digital outlook of the countries of the Middle-East and to
fostering their integration into the global economy. The data center continue to provide leading services to our citizens, residents and
will aim to be eco-friendly and to host advanced technologies and region as a whole.”

47 SEPTEMBER 2021