UAE Industries - Telecom

UAE telecom operators sign resource sharing deal

Deal on Resource Sharing during National Emergencies signed by the licensees under the supervision of the TRA

Dubai: UAE's telecom operators etisalat and du signed an MoU on Resource Sharing during National Emergencies at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's (TRA) headquarters in Dubai.

This MoU is a part of the adjustment process with the National Emergency Plan for the Telecommunications Sector (NEP-T) which was delivered to the licensees (Etisalat and Du) on June 2011. The plan aims for the coordination on actions and procedures among licensees to guarantee the sharing of resources in case of emergencies.

The MoU was signed by Nasser Bin Obood Al Falasi, Acting Chief Executive Officer for Etisalat and Osman Sultan, CEO for du. The MoU was witnessed by Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General. The MoU falls under the UAE Government Strategy 2011-2013 that aims to protect the homeland and enhance readiness for emergencies.

The strategy recognises the role that the telecom sector is playing to meet the UAE's interests and future prospects to establish a solid competitive economy and sustainable infrastructure, and guarantee the continuation of the telecom sector services during emergency cases.

Al Ghanim said, "Upon the launch of the NEP-T in June last year, we have set up a timetable for Etisalat and du in order for each entity to take on an adjustment process which will enable them to adapt to the plan's requirements. The plan includes a draft for the agreement between the two parties that requires them to address the articles as part of the adjustment process. The agreement's main goal is to guarantee the ability to coordinate a response towards any emergency including their absorption capacity or transference of services among them, in addition to sharing resources to meet the requirements of the NEP-T under the supervision of the TRA."

Al Falasi said, "Etisalat has made a concerted effort over the past years to deploy world-class technologies for the development of the nation. Through its past achievements, Etisalat has become an integral component of the UAE society which impacts as well as gets impacted by the dynamic changes in society."

"Telecommunications services are an integral part of people's lives, and its service continuity is vital to our community's safety. With the announcement of the NEP-T, we have undertaken all the necessary measures to ensure the continuation of telecommunications and information technology services across the UAE, as per the mandate of the plan," said Osman Sultan, CEO of du. "Some of our finest talent manage our dedicated Disaster Recovery and Business Process Continuity unit, the nerve centre responsible for compliance with the NEP-T, regardless of the nature or magnitude of the exigency. To ensure the success of this plan, we intend to work closely with the TRA and other operators in the UAE to achieve the best results for the country, its people, and businesses."