The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), and out of its commitment towards the development of the telecom sector in the UAE, is studying the requirements needed for effective regulation of the Next Generation Network (NGN).

In this respect, H.E. Mohamed Al Ghanim, TRA Board Member & Director General, stated: “In the recent five years, the telecommunications technology changed dramatically. Such change happened to the overall network architecture, offered services, protocols and standards, and the regulation framework. Almost all operators around the world have started the deployment of the NGN, which is a broadband network that will carry voice and data over Internet Protocol (IP). NGN will be the base and framework for future technologies and services.”

Mr. Al Ghanim added, “With the introduction of NGN, the role of the TRA will be more effective. He emphasized that, “the TRA believes that a new set of regulation framework, other than the existing regulations, need to be developed to facilitate and simplify the roll out of NGN. Mr. Al Ghanim clarified that “the TRA will ensure that there is clarity as to the regulation policy requirement necessary to support effective competition and ensure consumer protection.”

In his turn, Mr. Mohammed Al Ramsi, NGN Manager at the TRA, stated: “The NGN will facilitate the migration towards Network Convergence in which one common network shall be used to provide different services through different access technologies, whether wired or wireless. As part of its study, however, the TRA will cooperate with different regulators to exchange international experience with regard to NGN regulation and will consult with existing operators in the UAE in order to enable the country to be recognized as a world class modern telecommunication center for consumers and business.”

In the final analysis, there are several challenges that need to be addressed properly by the TRA, such as NGN licensing and regulatory framework, interconnection and interoperability over IP, technical standards, content regulation, consumer security, quality of service, and numbering.