Abu Dhabi: Telecommunications major etisalat plans to roll out 4G, the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards "within this year", etisalat's Acting Chief Executive Officer Nasser Bin Obood said here yesterday.
Replying to a question by Gulf News on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Telecoms CEO Summit, Bin Obood said 4G will be introduced first in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah.
Equipment
"So far, we don't have the equipment. But we will have it soon. You will also need 4G enabled smartphones," he added.
Bin Abood said etisalat plans up to Dh15 billion capital investment over the next five years to expand its infrastructure, which would include investments in information technology and the laying of cables.
"Over the next five years, we plan to spend Dh2 billion to Dh3 billion each year on improving 2G and 3G and [ushering in] 4G, as well as on cables and IT," he added.
Bin Abood also said the infrastructure sharing with rival telecommunications company du is "going on fine."
"On the commercial, technical and financial side, we have clarified most of the things," he said.
Market
Separately, the Deputy Director General of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Majid Al Mesmar said on the sidelines of the summit that the UAE will consider opening its telecommunications market by 2015, Bloomberg reported.
"Our commitment to the World Trade Organisation is to liberalise the market by 2015," said Al Mesmar.
