Julfar discussed a new era for the telecommunications sector, and Etisalat’s vision for the future of ICT regulations, highlighting the importance of developing a policy that enables the creation of a competitive business environment both on a local and global scale.
“The next source of advantage will come from unleashing the power of creativity and entrepreneurship of the Internet and the Information and Communication Technologies. In fact, in September, the ITU announced its latest report from the Broadband Commission which revealed 119 countries have now adopted national broadband policies or plans that will increase access to education, health and electronic payments. We now face a new chapter in telecoms; this is a new era for telecoms. We need new policies for governments, new regulations for regulators and new strategies for telcos and related industries,” Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Group, said.
“To facilitate this, governments must catalyse innovation and usage by encouraging industry to invest and also to educate and encourage their citizens to use these networks for their critical services. This requires a comprehensive ICT policy, and the UAE is well placed to capitalize upon this trend, thanks to government leadership and investment from the telecom industry.”
Earlier this month, Etisalat announced the successful trial of the world’s fastest mobile network, providing speeds of up to 300Mbps.
Etisalat also announced that it had deployed over three million kilometers of fiber optic cables across the UAE, making the UAE one of the most connected nations in the world in Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH). That is enough cable, if placed end-to-end, to wrap around the world 75 times, or to reach the moon 8.5 times.
Julfar also discussed the level of regulation that governs the telecommunications sector, one of the main talking points to be discussed during the week-long conference.
“As an operator, Etisalat is committed to providing value and to enhancing the capabilities of the countries and economies in which we operate, for example through our investment in 3G, fibre optic and 4G networks across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and also through our innovations and support of mobile commerce and health-care in the poorest nations. We are meeting our responsibility to the countries in which we invest, our responsibility to the communities we serve, and our responsibility to our peers and to the global telecommunications sector. We will continue to invest and develop our networks in partnerships with government for the good of mankind.”
“It is a great pleasure for ITU to hold ITU Telecom World 2012 here in Dubai. Telecommunications and information and communication technologies have taken giant strides since 1971, when the first ITU Telecom World event was held in Geneva forty years ago, providing peoples, businesses and governments with unprecedented growth and development,” Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), added
“ICT is transformative and its importance is recognized the world over. ICT will continue to play a catalytic role in sustainable social and economic development, and we are hopeful that ITU Telecom World 2012 will provide a positive platform for leading operators, service providers, government ministers and regulatory bodies to discuss the fundamentals of ICT and the importance of its integration in our society.”