The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is discussing plans to allocate new bandwidth frequencies suitable with 5th generation mobile networks, make it possible for airline companies to offer high-speed broadband Internet connection during flights at lower costs, and establish an international maritime distress system. These efforts were revealed during its participation at a recently-held workshop organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva.

The TRA, which is heading the Preparatory Meeting for World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), raised numerous vital clauses about the event which will occur in 2019. It examined the suggested clauses on using space telecommunications in terms of existing capabilities, considering that area telecoms is a major element of the area sector in addition to satellites and other related space communication technologies.

Eng. Khaled Al Awadhi, Manager for International Organizations, Corporate Development Department and TRA spokesperson stated: "The UAE's involvement in the seminar as official speaker is a considerable step for the nation as a trusted nation capable of leading such occasions and confirms our well established collaboration with the ITU in different initiatives for the sector. This is not the very first time the UAE been welcomed to lead as an official speaker in global workshops-- reflecting our ability to determine the weak and strengths and present ideas transparently. The UAE's leadership in telecom is central to the TRA's strategic objectives and we are working to accomplish this through technical and infrastructure developments in addition to strategic partnerships. Leading the Preparatory Meeting for WRC-19 is another testimony of the nation's position internationally as a relied on partner in telecommunications,"

Eng. Khaled Al Awadhi included "The TRA has proposed different technical aspects which require close partnership between the telecoms and area sectors, especially in terms of boosting the quality of telecoms services and providing clients with easy access and reach as our way of helping our customers attain happiness. "The TRA has gone over the importance of using space services and providing new frequencies that can accommodate 5th generation mobile devices, which will require expanding broadband services or enhancing the effectiveness of existing capabilities. The TRA has discussed broadband application using satellites to serve the aeronautics sector which will allow airlines to easily provide high-speed web connection in-flight. At present, there are some technical obstacles to fully offer Internet connection while onboard flights because of lack of capabilities and high expense.

Al Awadhi even more stated that the federal agency was welcomed to become part of an initiative to establish the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, an electronic identification technology which will track ships navigating throughout oceans to guarantee their security from pirates and immediately get a response during emergencies. The task can be done by assigning new spectrum bands.

"Emirati engineers are very much with the ability of contributing considerable development in the space sector as we have actually seen them launch lots of projects under the sponsorship of technology companies and service providers. The TRA is continuously working to meet the requirements of those projects which might have to be checked and applied globally. This is where we can be found in - to facilitate their implementation through coordination with ITU," Al Awadhi emphasized.

The Telecommunications and Regulatory Authority won the chairmanship of the WRC 2019 Preparatory Meeting throughout its participation at the Radio Communication Assemblies conferences held in October 2015.