UAE hosts the last meeting of the Arab Group assigned to prepare for the World Conference on International Telecommunication

Mobilk - The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, hosted in its Dubai headquarters during the period from September 8 to 10, 2012 the third and final meeting of the Arab Group assigned to prepare for the upcoming  World Conference on International Telecommunication (WCIT) that will be hosted in the period 3 to 14 December 2012 in Dubai.

This Arab meeting was chaired by the Leader of the Group, Engineer Tariq al-Awadi, the Executive Director of TRA Spectrum Department.  (12)  Arab countries, members of the Arab League, attended and participated in this important meeting.  

TRA has called for this meeting of the Arab Group in coordination with the Arab League in Cairo to finalize and approve all the Arab joint proposals regarding the agenda of the next WCIT in Dubai and the proposals concerning the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) associated with this mega Conference.

 

The first day, September 8th, 2012, was dedicated for a Regional Coordination Meeting between the Arab countries and other Regional Groups in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which participated in this meeting, including the American Group (CITEL) and the African Group (ATU) in addition to Regional and International organizations and Regional companies such as the (ICANN) and the European Telecommunications Network Operators (ETNO) as well as other private sector companies from the UAE in the Arab Region. Furthermore, the Telecommunications Technical Bureau of Bahrain and representatives of the ITU in Geneva have participated in this meeting.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Mohammed Nasser al-Ghanim, Director General of TRA, by a welcome speech addressed to the guests.   He wished them success in their work and stressed the importance of the regulations pertaining to international communications and the significance of the WCIT to take place in Dubai by the end of this year after almost 24 years of its last meeting in 1988 in Australia.    Commenting on the event, Mr. al-Ghanim said: "The great importance of this Conference lies in the fact that it is seen as a significant event of the telecommunications sector in the history of ITU, because through this important World Conference, the International Telecommunication Regulations will be updated and revised, as these Regulations constitute one of the fundamental international treaties that form the basis of ITU and the foundations of its functions."  

"The International Telecommunication Regulations are the most important international treaties relevant to the area of communications with 178 signatory countries.  These Regulations set the general principles relating to the provision and operation of international communications; facilitating international connectivity and interoperability; supporting coordinated development and effective operation of technical facilities and enhancing the efficiency, usefulness and availability of international telecommunications services," Mr. al-Ghanim added.   He confirmed that the conference is a great and important opportunity to increase cooperation between countries to help them reach new levels of economic and social development through effective communication services, and to make the International Telecommunication Regulations more effective, to help them respond to the challenges of the rapidly evolving and growing ICT environment.

The amendments and additions internationally proposed by Members States concerning the revision of the International Telecommunication Regulations can be summarized in the following broad lines:

1.        Convergence between telecommunications and information technology;

2.        The publics right of access to international telecommunications services;

3.        Interconnection and interoperability and quality of the services;

4.        Fees and accounting;

5.        Information Security;

6.        Communications in cases of emergency, disaster and crisis;

7.        Protection of national resources, numbers and addresses, and combating misuse; and

8.        Combating scam, fraud, deceptive messages and SPAM

The meeting was focused on understanding the proposals and views of other Regional and International Groups and Organizations that took part in the meeting, and on identifying their views with regard to these Regulations and also with regard to the Conference, its structure and the proposed topics on its agenda.

In this regard, Chair of the meeting, Engineer Tariq said: "The efforts of today were focused on listening to the different views of these Regional Organizations and discussing with them to learn more about the nature of their proposals, which they will submit to the upcoming WCIT and how to make bilateral coordination accordingly with them before and during the Conference to converge the views whenever possible."

On the work of the Arab Group, the chairman pointed out that the creation of this ad hoc Arab Group stemmed from an earlier decision in 2011 by the Council of Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information.  The Arab League was entrusted to create this ad hoc Group to assume the task of effective preparation for the upcoming WCIT and to coordinate the views of the Arab Group, harmonize their positions and prepare their proposals with respect to the topics listed on the agenda of the Conference.

The Arab proposals to revise the provisions of International Telecommunication Regulations are centered on achieving and stimulating sustainability, growth, development and innovation in ICT by enhancing global cooperation among governments and private sectors to achieve the following important and key goals:

 1.     The provision of international telecommunications services with efficiency and satisfactory quality;

 2.    Ensuring security and confidence in the use of ICT;

 3.    Providing competitive, appropriate, and fair environment in the provision of international telecommunications services;

It is noteworthy that the delegation of the United States has actively participated in this Regional Meeting with a great deal of interest.   In his speech, the Head of the US delegation and the US Ambassador to WCIT, H.E. Terry Kramer, praised by the good organization of the meeting and the diligence by the UAE management and its leading role in offering everything that would serve the telecommunications sector at the local, Regional and International levels, as well as its endeavor to ensure good outcome of the Conference, which it is chairing.  He also commented on the proposals of the Regional Group relating to this meeting and the upcoming Conference, stressing the importance of the International Telecommunication Regulations and the role they play in supporting the growth of ICT by encouraging innovation and competition.

At the end of the meeting, the chairman of the Arab Group extended sincere thanks and gratitude to all representatives and experts from the Arab administrations and to everyone who participated in and contributed to the events of this final and important Arab meeting to prepare for WCIT.  He commended their cooperation, support and all their sincere efforts which had a fruitful impact on the success of the meeting; and on clarifying, coordinating and harmonizing the Arab positions and proposals to serve and defend the interests and needs of the Arab Group during the activities of this Conference.   He wished good luck and success for all in achieving the desired objectives during the Conference.