The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority denies talk of third operator

The UAE's telco regulator said it is not currently looking at issuing a third mobile licence, claiming there are other areas of service that need to be addressed.

The TRA did state that it is drafting a new regulation for licensing in the UAE without specific details of the new licence regulation. In future opportunities will be given to other telecom services to operate, providing other than the mobile services.

News agency Bloomberg recently quoted Mohamed Al Ghanim, director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), saying a third mobile licence for the emirates was being planned."A third mobile licence is in the books, but it is too early to discuss it now," he said, according to Bloomberg. "A third licence has always been part of the government's plan, but it's premature to make a decision about it now. We licensed du last year, and they began operating this year, so it will take some time before a third licence is offered."

In February local media reported Samir Al Basheer, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) director, as saying a third operator was under formation in the UAE; the TRA denied there were any such discussions going on.