The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that the UAE has made a significant progress in the Internet and telephony level of competition. The UAE has progressed from the 104th to the first rank globally, according to the Knowledge Index Report, published recently by The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation.
The UAE progressed from the 61st to the 5th rank globally in the Sector Competitiveness Index for Information and Communications Technology - ICT Inputs, which measures the ICT price basket, Internet and telephony level of competition, and laws relating to ICTs.
Commenting on this great global achievement, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General, said: “The advanced level of competitiveness of the telecommunications sector in the UAE reflects the success of the one-team strategy used by government entities in national projects and initiatives management. This accomplishment has been achieved by all us, and we hope to continue in a team spirit to maintain the UAE’s leading position and to enhance our national vision, to make the UAE the first globally in various fields. TRA has been working closely with the concerned entities to develop regulatory policies for the sector, which led to the creation of a competitive sector. We are determined to continue developing ICT policies and to take all decisions and measures that support the sector in particular and the country in general, in order to create a competitive sector for digital transformation, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, the Emirates Mars Mission and others.”
H.E. Al Mansoori emphasized that our achievements motivate us to accomplish more. He added: “There are two key factors for the success of any country, a wise leadership, and ambitious and committed people. In the UAE, we are proud of our wise leadership, which has directed us through its decisions and guidance to the great achievements we enjoy today. We are proud of our people who have worked so hard to achieve the top positions in various scientific, economic and social fields. In the UAE, we are proud of our achievements and determined to continue the hard work and develop our human and material capacities to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, and the National Agenda goals. We have worked very hard over the last years, as per the future strategies set by our Government and in line with the requirements of the stage, and today we are in the stage of harvesting. We have the strongest passport in the world and we are at the forefront of countries in many areas. Our goals are clear: the happiness of our people and the happiness of all the peoples of the world, through sustainable and comprehensive development based on a solid future knowledge economy."
This achievement has added to the previous series of achievements of the UAE in the global competitiveness in the telecommunication sector, as the UAE is ranked first globally in Mobile-broadband subscriptions, in addition to achieving first rank in Population covered by mobile-cellular networks as well as population covered by data networks (3G and above services). The country also ranked second globally in Mobile-cellular subscriptions, fourth globally in percentage of households equipped with a personal computer, 7th globally in percentage of households with home internet access, and 8th globally in percentage of Internet users.
The UAE also advanced 18 ranks in ‘ICT Adoption’ Pillar, from 24th to 6th rank globally, in addition to reaching the second rank globally in the United Nations Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII).
These results reflect the significant progress achieved by the UAE in ICT, which was the result of TRA’s efforts, guided by the directives of the wise leadership, and reflects the efficiency of the strategies adopted by the UAE in the fields of ICT, artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
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