Dubai: Telecom operator du is ready to invest in its terrestrial networks if fixed network sharing does not happen, a top official told Gulf News.
Copper wire and fibre optics are examples of terrestrial communications while satellite, radio, Wi-Fi and microwave are all non-terrestrial. A terrestrial network communicates without radio transmission.
“Network sharing has to happen, but if it does not, then we will surely invest to boost our coverage areas across the UAE. But it will take a longer time,” Ahmad Al Muhaideb, vice-president of broadcasting and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service operations at du, said on the sidelines of the 21st edition of Cabsat, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre until March 12.
The fixed network sharing between du and Etisalat was supposed to happen in October last year, but has been delayed. Fixed network sharing was initially planned for the end of 2011 so that both Etisalat and du could eye each other’s market share.
Both operators have marked their areas of coverage so there is no real competition. Du primarily serves the newly developed areas and free zones in Dubai and Etisalat serves the rest of the market.
“From our part, we [are] ready for fixed network sharing but it is up to the TRA to decide, and we cannot comment on behalf of TRA,” Al Muhaideb said.
The telecom operator is aiming to expand its IPTV services in new areas in the UAE.
IPTV is a system where television services are delivered through the internet rather than through the traditional satellite or cable formats.
“We have fibre cables across most parts of the UAE, but what we don’t have is the last mile accessibility connecting the homes,” he said.
Du’s IPTV service is available only in new areas of Dubai and has more than 140,000 IPTV set-top boxes installed in homes in Dubai.
Al Muhaideb said that the number of IPTV customers are growing, and du is providing more than 400 channels, out of which more than 100 feature high-definition quality.
The operator launched its multiscreen application - du View Anywhere - to Android and Apple tablet and smartphone users with IPTV subscriptions so that subscribers can see “over-the-top” (OTT) channels on their devices.
Du subscribers can watch 40 channels - many of their favorite TV channels, as well as a selection of TV series, movies and kids content on the go through their mobile devices.
The operator has plans to increase the OTT channels to 60.
“When we grow our network, TV is the main part which is benefitting. We are expanding our 4G network in a big way. The present infrastructure is enough to meet the current needs but we will be investing further,” he said.
On OTT players making money out of the investment made by telecom operators, he said: “We lay the pipe and the OTT players make the money and that is the global trend. They [OTT] don’t need to partner with us [telecom operators]. What we can do is develop our own business for us to cope with the trend.”
He said one of the areas where we can change our business model to make revenue is content distribution and TV broadcasting.
