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UAE No.1 in Arab world for telecom infrastructure, 7th globally: UN report

Dubai - The UAE also ranked 1st in the Arab Region and 4th globally in launching and using 5G networks.

The UAE has been ranked first in the Arab region and seventh globally in the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), according to the UN E-Government Survey 2020. It also ranked second in Asia, according to the index.

In addition, the UAE made significant progress in the global competitiveness indicators of the telecommunications sector in the report, maintaining the 1st place globally in the mobile subscription index, and advancing from 2nd to 1st globally in the mobile broadband Internet subscription index. As for the Internet users index, the UAE moved up to 5th from 13th globally, achieving a qualitative leap in the fixed broadband subscription index, as it moved up to 29th from 68th in the world.

These achievements resulted from the efforts of the TII Executive Team headed by TRA and UAE mobile operators (etisalat and du), where the team worked to raise the country's ranking in the TII sub-indicators by launching a number of initiatives over the past years, contributing to maintaining the UAE as a world leader in such indicators.

Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of Spectrum Affairs Department, TII Executive Team Leader, and Head of TRA's National Agenda Team, said: "The TRA has developed plans and strategies that contribute to strengthening the telecommunications sector infrastructure, out of its belief in the central role that this sector plays in achieving the UAE Vision 2021 and National Agenda goals. Telecom operators in the country have allotted a huge budget for infrastructure investment of up to Dh36 billion, making the UAE's infrastructure among the best in the world in terms of fiber services and overall coverage."

Al Awadhi stressed that the significant development in UAE's telecommunications sector infrastructure comes in preparation for the upcoming milestones, adding: "This achievement reflects the development and quality of the telecom sector infrastructure in the UAE, which was a key enabler that contributed to business continuity of vital sectors in the country during the Covid-19 crisis, as well as raising UAE's readiness for future changes and technology. Owing to the evolved and quality infrastructure, the UAE was able to easily adapt to variables, adopt smart techniques such as distance learning and remote working, provide services ensuring the natural pace of work, and provide opportunities for growth in light of the ever-changing world."

The UAE ranked 1st in the Arab Region and 4th globally in launching and using 5G networks. The UAE has been ranked first in the Arab region and 8th globally in the Online Service Index (OSI) issued by the United Nations within the E-Government Development Index (EGDI).

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com