Etisalat, du network sharing talks complete - TRA

By Andy Sambidge
  • Saturday, 3 July 2010 3:07 PM
  • Share via facebook
  • Tweet this
  • Bookmark and Share

Etisalat and du have completed talks to share their networks and new commercial operations will be launched "in the coming months", the UAE's telecom regulator said on Saturday.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said in a statement that the two operators were "technically ready to open their fixed-line networks for competition" but did not give a date for the network sharing to start.

Under the new agreement, both operators will be able to currently provide all fixed-line services, telephone and internet services, and in the near future television services, everywhere in the UAE.

The move, the TRA said, was in line with the "strategies enabling competition in the telecom market".

Mohamad Al Ghanim, director general of the TRA, said: "The step from Etisalat and du to provide each other with access to their fixed telecommunications infrastructure will allow customers to select service provider in every household and business across the entire nation.

"The parties have now concluded the negotiations on complex technical and operational details of the network sharing arrangements and are currently in the process of undertaking comprehensive testing of the networks and systems interfaces.

"Users of fixed telecommunications services across the UAE will be able to access services from both operators once these are commercially launched in the coming months."

Etisalat and du have been negotiating an agreement under the supervision and guidance of the TRA to allow them to provide voice, internet, data and TV services across each other's networks.

Nasser bin Obood, acting CEO at Etisalat, said: "We are looking forward to competing for new customers within the Dubai free zones and new residential areas and are confident that the heightened customer experience that we are able to offer, in addition to our high value products and services, will be extremely effective in growing our market share in fixed line services."

Osman Sultan, CEO of du, added: "With this current development, all consumers in the country will have an opportunity to choose their preferred operator for internet, voice and TV services.

"Competition will no doubt foster growth of the telecommunications industry, act as a catalyst for the overall economic development of the country and above all, bring better value for customers."

Related:

Stories

du says outlook is 'bright' as it plans Internet unit

UAE's telecom competition levels fall in 2010

Companies

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company

Market Performance

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
5.85
0.04 0.69 (%)
Enlarge graph

Also in UAE

Abu Dhabi to see 15% growth in summer flights

Mahoney isn't talking baloney

Join the Discussion

Disclaimer:The view expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by Arabian Business, its employees, sponsors or its advertisers.

Please post responsibly. Commenter Rules

Posted by: JK Sunday, 4 July 2010 3:04 PM[UAE] - UAE

@BB, actually the new price is quite competitive. $70 you can get tv, internet and phone. While in Canada for $70 you only get internet and phone. Speed are the same. But i agree on you, once du has settled and established, it would be nice to have a third operation from international market.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: BB Sunday, 4 July 2010 2:52 PM[UAE]

These two operators have agreed to share the cake. No big deal. JK is right customers do hate both operators as they act with the same level of incompetence and arrogance in their respective monopoly areas. What is needed is a third player that comes from a mature market and understands the customers value. Du new price for a so called 8MB is still 3 times more expensive than any EU or USA operator for lower quality internet speed. Small boys games still on.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: JK Sunday, 4 July 2010 1:11 PM[UAE] - UAE

Generally, Du customers hate du. Etisalat customers hate Etisalat. I am Etisalat customer and can't wait for du service. Etisalat is generally a pain to deal with. I am not concerned with du payments as you could do online, much easier. Already doing it with mobile. Plus, du has cheaper plans for any service. Although it states fixed line internet (technical term), ofcourse you can make it wireless with a wireless router. Du just have to make sure they have enough resources (staff) to activate as there will be a lot of Etisalat customers who wants to switch. Du customer base is small, so I guess Etisalat can quiet comfortably switch them. But no doubt, this will bring a lot of prices down just like it has with mobile. Du has already begun the war with AED-200 for 8mb internet+phone.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Ah Sunday, 4 July 2010 11:13 AM[UAE] - UAE

i live in DG , and i have TV ,Internet and Fixed line from du you just buy a router which is cost 200 or 300 AED then will have a wirless at your home , its very simple , you just need to congiure the router just to provide a user name and passpord just to prevent any one to use your bandwidth

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Syam Sunday, 4 July 2010 10:01 AM[UAE]

My opinion: (I live in Emaar Greens and using Du services from the beginning) Fixed line: No comments, I think both have same standard. Fixed-line Internet: Du is much better. Wireless Internet: Only Etisalat is providing. One can subscribe to it irrespective of the location. Mobile: Etisalat has better coverage so go for it unless you like one of the Du's plans. TV: Etisalat is better but service not available in Du area.

Reply to this comment.

Enter the words above: Enter the numbers you hear:

All comments are subject to approval before appearingTerms and conditions

Further reading

Get E-Mail Alerts
Get E-Mail Alerts
Get E-Mail Alerts

Arabian Business Power 500 2013 - Top 5 from Qatar »

Ahmad Al Sayed  Akbar Al Baker  Nasser Al Khelaifi  Naseer Homoud  Bader Al Darwish 
View complete list
Features & Analysis
Back to the boom?

Back to the boom?

All the Gulf economies are now back on a strong growth curve...

The waiting game

The waiting game

With Dubai’s property market seemingly on the cusp of a new boom...

3
Dubai may get creative to ease looming debt hump

Dubai may get creative to ease looming debt hump

Emirate seen using wide range of strategies from asset sales...

Most Popular
Most Discussed
  • 30
    Are there too many Brits in the UAE?

    Could you imagine what would happen if a large proportion of the educated, professional worker population suddenly left (let alone the domestic workers... more

    Friday, 24 May 2013 1:26 PM - Khalid
  • 27
    Bahrain MPs vote to ban pork in kingdom

    @both, the world is not the same all over; thankfully, the citizens of one country view things differently than another. Europe allowing something does... more

    Friday, 24 May 2013 1:25 PM - SAM
  • 8
    Dubai contractor Arabtec says workers end strike

    I have worked in Arabtec, Dubai as an Engineer for 7 years and moved on a few years back. I consider Arabtec as one of the best company's I have worked... more

    Friday, 24 May 2013 1:23 PM - Manoj
Read all user comments »
  • 44
    Dubai labourers stage rare strike for more pay

    As much as I love the UAE, this will be a problem for them in the future. Lets look at this from any democratic Country on Earth. If I decided not to turn... more

    Wednesday, 22 May 2013 11:56 AM - Ty Say
  • 30
    Are there too many Brits in the UAE?

    Could you imagine what would happen if a large proportion of the educated, professional worker population suddenly left (let alone the domestic workers... more

    Friday, 24 May 2013 1:26 PM - Khalid
  • 27
    Bahrain MPs vote to ban pork in kingdom

    @both, the world is not the same all over; thankfully, the citizens of one country view things differently than another. Europe allowing something does... more

    Friday, 24 May 2013 1:25 PM - SAM
Read all user comments »
Read all user comments »