Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has confirmed that both telecom operators in the UAE, Etisalat and du, have completed the technical side of opening their fixed-line networks to competition.
This will allow the operators to provide telephone and internet services across the UAE.
While negotiations were completed over three years ago, the process is yet to end.
With only two major telecom operators in the UAE, TRA Director General Mohammad Nasser Al Ganem said both have been competing for a greater market share.
“Both operators are very aggressive in terms of competition. They are very aggressive in the market as well as in efforts in grabbing more customers,” Al Ganem said.
He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the TRA to provide a platform for Irish companies to present business solutions to UAE industry stakeholders.
With such competition between both operators, Al Ganem described the price basket in the UAE as, “one of the best in GCC countries.”
He added that customers will see new packages coming out this year from both operators.
When asked about the violation issued by TRA against Etisalat in late November, which was the result of blocking a du awareness campaign on mobile number portability (MNP), Al Ganem confirmed the campaign is no longer blocked.
MNP was launched in late December, allowing users the ability to switch service provider while keeping their existing number.
