Represented by The General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (TRA), UAE is participating in the World Radiocommuncation Conference (WRC) 2015 that is taking place in Geneva till 27 November 2015. H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, UAE TRA Director General, is leading the delegation to the conference that is held every four years. The conference’s work scope encompasses revising radio regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous world radio communication conferences.

The delegation is composed of representatives from various UAE ministries and entities including TRA, Ministry of Interior, Etisalat, Du, and Mohamed Bin Rashid Space Center, Yahsat for Satellite Communications, and Al Thuraya Mobile Satellite Communications. H.E. Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Office in Geneva, also attended the conference.

 Aiming to strengthen international ties and promote cooperation in the areas related to ICT development, the delegation met with other participating delegations on the sidelines of the conference. These delegations were from several countries including United States, Mexican Republic, and South Korea, in addition to other international institutions that are concerned with ICT and global telecommunicate companies. The meetings witnessed discussing many significant topics related to the sector’s advancements, and the aspirations of various countries to utilize the radio-frequency spectrum optimally as it is considered one of the limited valuable natural resources. In addition to keeping pace with the technological advancement in the modern radio communication field. 

In this context, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, UAE TRA Director General stated: “We are keen on participating in the international and regional events as they represent an ideal venue for us to contribute in fortifying UAE’s leading position. Moreover, they mark a supreme platform for us to exchange knowledge and expertise, in addition to formulating strategies in light of the current ICT advancements. Our participation reflects our endeavor to regulate, manage, and utilize radio-frequency spectrum optimally in an efficient and economic manner that serves humanity. Chairing the Arabic delegation sheds the light on the strategic role that TRA is playing on an international and regional level, it is also considered a proof of the global and regional entities’ faith in TRA and the immense efforts that it exerts to develop the ICT sector”.

It is noteworthy to mention that UAE chairs the Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG), represented by Engineer Tariq Al-Awadhi, UAE TRA Executive Director Spectrum Affairs. Engineer Tariq stated that “This conference has a paramount importance as it discusses 33 agenda items on its agenda. These items have a significant impact on regulating the limited spectrum frequencies in line with the most advanced applications and the emerging and future technologies.”

TRA plays a significant and pivotal role in the conference as it will chair Committee 5. Engineer Khaled Al-Awadhi- TRA Manager of International Organizations was nominated to chair this committee. Moreover, a number of UAE representatives were honored by ITU chairman for their valuable contribution and support to the radio-spectrum frequency.

The conference reached various significant decisions regarding a number of topics pertaining to the space research services, the spectrum requirements of the maritime mobile service, and the needs of the spectrum to support Wireless Avionic Intercommunication Systems (WAIC), which will contribute massively to the development of the aircraft industry in the coming years. The conference will be discussing the contributions provided to it by the participating members and organizations. As more than 3,700 participants from more than 160 countries and 140 organizations are collaborating to find solutions for the raised problems regarding several topics that are related to radio communications and spectrum frequency recourses.

Moreover, represented by The General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (TRA), UAE presented more than 60 common proposals in collaboration with the Arab Spectrum Management Group. The contributions entailed various solutions that are related to many topics that were listed on the conference’s agenda. These proposals embody the fruitful and constructive cooperation between TRA and its partners in UAE and Arab region to support the development of Radio communications in the region.