TRA Prepares to Host ITUs Plenipotentiary Conference 2018

Mobilk - The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) visited various countries across the world in preparations to organize the International Telecommunications Unions (ITU) key event Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 (PP-18), which is being hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 29th October to 16th November 2018. The visits aimed at raising awareness about the importance and the activities of the quadrennial event to be held in the UAE for the first time. The TRA is bracing up for the global event by working on the logistics and forming specialized task forces in order to make the Conference a success.

The visits covered countries in various groups (as per PP-18) including Asia, Australia, Africa, Russia, Europe and the Arab region, wherein several meetings were conducted with the H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Deputy Director General for Telecommunications Sector at the TRA, who is also the candidate for the chairmanship of the PP-18. These meetings discussed significant topics with an aim of coming up with consensual views about the sector and related issues.

During these visits, Chairman of the Arab group (for PP-18) and Executive Director for the Spectrum Management at the TRA, Eng. Tariq Al Awadhi, reviewed the latest developments in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Arab world and highlighted their contributions along with the role played by the rest of the groups for the Conference.

Commenting on the preparations, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, the Director General of the TRA, said, "Since the UAE has been chosen to host the 20th edition of PP-18, the TRA has been making considerable efforts to make this event a success. We are keen to highlight the leading position that the UAE holds in the sector of ICT. Today, the teams at the TRA continue to work towards achieving the highest degree of local and international engagement for the Conference and we are completely prepared to host it."

H.E. stressed that hosting the Conference reflects the important place that the UAE has secured in the world ICT map as the country has proven its ability to excel in all sectors across all industries. He said that the UAE has emerged as a preferred destination for the important events and initiatives that seek to advance the lifestyle of people and make the world a happier and more sustainable place to live. He added, "The countrys development in the telecommunications sector is a result of the directives of the wise leadership that has always encouraged investment in the field. As per the vision of our leaders, we aim to place UAE at the forefront of the ICT sector."

H.E. Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, Deputy Director General for Telecommunications Sector at the TRA, said: "The UAE is one of the leading countries in the telecommunications sector, offering the best services and this conference is an ideal opportunity for us to share our experience with the world. Over the next three weeks, the Dubai World Trade Centre will be a venue for a number of important meetings, discussions and workshops pertaining to the field of telecommunications. We anticipate that the Conference will have a positive impact on the sector, at both local and global levels."

H.E. Al Mesmar pointed out that hosting the conference highlights the role of the UAE in the ICT. He added, "Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has set out goals for us to rank first in the world in all fields. We are working towards the vision of the leaders and it was evident when the UAE was ranked among top 50 in the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018. The UAE has emerged as a leader in the telecommunications sector, It is one of the best countries in terms of ICT infrastructure and also one of the first countries to adopt the fifth generation (5G) technology and set an example for other countries."

PP-18, considers the reports and proposals relating to the policy issues of the ITU, which is a specialized United Nations information and communication technology Agency, allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to the field to the under-served communities worldwide.

Due to its global membership, ITU brings the benefits of modern communication technologies to people everywhere in an efficient, safe and easy way, with high quality and in addition to the 193 member States, ITU membership includes the information and communication technology organization, many Leading academic institutes, and about 700 technical companies around the world.