Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council on Tuesday passed a draft law that seeks primarily to strengthen competition in the electronic communications sector, stimulate investment, foster freedom of choice for consumers and enable them to benefit from innovative services, quality and lower rates.
The UAE telecoms regulator has increased its oversight of the handling of customer complaints by operators, according to its new director- general.
The law establishes an information technology and telecoms policy council, which will be tasked with supervising telecoms and the information technology sector and regulating competition in the sector.
Members of the House insisted the telecoms policy council be subject to the State Audit Institution, an independent watchdog set up in 1976, to investigate any financial irregularities uncovered in federal organisations.
A clause exempting the telecoms council from review of the State Audit Institution was voted to be removed from the draft law.
Hamad Al Rahoumi, a member from Dubai, said the SAI is the UAE’s supreme external audit institution and practises audit over the federal government and he finds no reason why the telecoms council should be exempt from review.
Dr Nidal Al Tunaiji, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, agreed and said the telecoms council should be audited in keeping with the international standard on auditing.
A report made by the FNC Public Utilities Committee said the bill is meant to improve competitiveness in information technology and communications.
Customer service is high on the agenda of the UAE’s telecoms regulator amid further liberalisation of the sector.
Members of the House said the new watchdog was meant to meet the country’s massive transformation to provide smart services through mobile devices, requiring the introduction of continuous improvement of the telecommunications sector’s infrastructure.
They emphasised the need for vigorous efforts to provide quality services for customers, with the adoption of all advanced solutions to enhance communication so they can benefit from these services at any time.
The plan to improve the coordination between providers of telecoms services comes with competition expected to toughen between du and etisalat with greater sharing of infrastructure.
Zayed Housing programme
Salem Ali Al Shehi, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, put two questions to Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, about waiving 20 per cent of home loans in case the loan is paid off in 10 years and Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Human Resources Authority about promotion of people with special needs in federal departments.
Al Nuaimi asked the issue be tackled in the next meeting of the House, while Al Hammadi sent a response in writing, but the member demanded that the minister show up in person at the next session.
