The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced yesterday that the UAE will host the International Telecom Exhibition (Union Telecom 2012) for the first time in the Middle East. This announcement came days after the Union revealed that it had won the chance to host the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA)and the World Conference on International Telecommunications, which will be held from 19 November until14 December 2012.

The UAE was part of a high-level delegation headed by HE Mohamad Ahmad Al-Qamzi, Chairman of the TRA with the presence of HE Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of the TRA, alongside CEOs of the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, Etisalat, and the Integrated Telecommunications Service Provider, du, in addition to a delegation from Etisalat and du.

The International Telecommunication Union (Union Telecom 2012) will take place in October of next year, in parallel with GITEX, which is one of the most important exhibitions dedicated to communications and IT. GITEX is organized by the ITU, and is attended by a large number of heads of states, decision-makers, ministers, and high-profile figures.

HE Mohamad Ahmad Al-Qamzi, Chairman of the TRA, gave a speech on behalf of the UAE, praising the remarkable role of ITU in connecting the world to cutting-edge technologies. He also expressed his gratitudefor the confidence bestowed upon the UAE by ITU and member states for incubating and organizing this huge and unique event for the first time, particularly given that it is rarely held outside the ITU headquarters in Geneva.

WTSA is considered among the most significantconferences regarding telecommunication standardizations and IT, organized by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau once every four years. The assembly comes up with many international, significant decisions, and recommendations for all member states and members of the private sector and companies, alongside the assembly’s adoption of the structure of the ITU standardization sector four years later.

The assembly is also regarded as one the most important global events concerned with setting agendas and policies responsible for organizing telecommunications on a global level. These agendas are among the ITU deeds, aimed at laying down the general principles related to providing and operating international telecommunications, designed to facilitate intercommunication and interoperation of the infrastructure and communications. Additionally these agendas support harmonious development and efficient operation of technical facilities, promote efficiency, and provide global wired and wireless communications. The last International Telecommunications Exhibition was held in 1988 in Melbourne. An international treaty will be issued, to be signed and adopted by ITU members who shall abide by it.

HE Al-Qamzi commented on the positive and remarkable participation of the UAE, “Under the wise guidance of HH President of UAE, the state pays great attention to the ICT sector as it is among the top priorities of the federal government. Indeed, the state witnessed considerable progress in recent years in this vital sector. Our participation in the International Telecom Exhibition (Union Telecom 2012) was successful from all sides, where experience was shared among leaders in the sector. We listened to the presentations of these experts, and partook in all workshops and dialogue sessions which tackled different subjects, among them broadband, digital innovations, LTE, cooperation between public and private sectors, digital cities, cyber security, cloud computing and other highly important matters.” 

HE confirmed that a high-level national committee will be formed, headed by the TRA, and constituting relevant government and non-governmental entities, to prepare early and effectively for the important global events next year and come up with remarkable, successful results, reflecting the state’s leading status on a global level.

UAE’s participation in the International Telecom Exhibition was not limited to presence, but, in cooperation with du and Etisalat, the TRA sponsored and set up the area set apart for heads of states and governments, presidents, UN organizations, CEOs, city governors, and innovators. This was well received by both attendees and participants.