Eng. Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of the Spectrum Affairs Department at TDRA, officially presented the opening keynote on the 10th of December, 2024, at the 18th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, held at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai.
Eng. Al Awadhi's opening remarks provided invaluable insights into the regulatory landscape in the UAE and beyond, setting the tone for the sessions to follow. His vision and perspective laid the foundation for the summit and reinforced the UAE's position as a global leader in telecommunications innovation.
This year, in a strategic move highlighting the UAE's commitment to staying at the forefront of advanced technologies, particularly in the telecommunications sector, TDRA unveiled the fourth updated version of the National Frequency Plan. This crucial update includes the allocation of the 600 MHz and 6 GHz frequency bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems, a significant step towards preparing the UAE's telecom infrastructure for the demands of next-generation connectivity.
Eng. Al Awadhi also noted that 2024 has been a particularly productive year, marked by the launch of several innovative initiatives, many of which are harnessing the power of AI. A standout among these was the ICT Regulatory Sandbox, a platform for fostering innovation while ensuring the development of a robust regulatory framework that can keep pace with emerging technologies. This initiative underscores the UAE's proactive approach to shaping the future of the ICT sector.
Additionally, Eng. Al Awadhi emphasized that the summit is an excellent platform for cooperation and knowledge-sharing among industry leaders, noting "I would like to express my deepest gratitude for bringing the leaders of ICT together." He further highlighted the importance of collective action in driving progress and underscored the value of collaboration in shaping the future of telecommunications, technology, and regulation.
His remarks set an inspiring tone for the rest of the summit, encouraging active participation and forward-thinking dialogue among all attendees.
