UAE seeks ITU Council seat and RRB membership

The UAE is seeking a seat at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council as well as the membership of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).

The regulator Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced the candidacy of the UAE for a seat at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, and for the membership of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) from 2011 to 2015.

ITU is an international organisation established to standardise and regulate international audio and telecommunications which was formerly known as International Telegraph Union. The RRB is a part-time body comprising 12 members (or six per cent of the total number of ITU member states, whichever is higher) representing the world's five regions – Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

The RRB also provides advice to radiocommunication conferences and radiocommunication assemblies, and may perform any additional duties relating to the assignment and utilisation of frequencies and the use of the satellite orbits, if they fall within the jurisdiction of ITU-R.

This will take place in upcoming ITU plenipotentiary conference in Mexico in 2010. The announcement came during the ITU Council meeting in which UAE participated among among 46 member states at the council that represent the 191 member states of ITU.

Ambassador Obeid Salem Al Zaabi, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva, said: "UAE has been able to achieve many successes through its effective participations and with the respect of other departments and governments, regionally and internationally. Such outcome has been illustrated lately by choosing the UAE to be the headquarters of one of the most important international organisations worldwide, the International Renewable Energy Agency."

"The UAE's commitment is highlighted to ITU issues since it was elected to ITU Council, represented by TRA. It is looking forward to continue as part of the council for the coming years."

Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director-General highlighted ITU's role in facilitating the means to support and develop the sector. "UAE is committed by participating and contributing effectively to numerous meetings and conferences, included child protection of the internet threats," he said.

The TRA, on behalf of the UAE, presented an action plan regarding the council's financial matter as per the decision of the plenipotentiary conference that was held in 2006 in Antalya, Turkey. However, regardless of the fact that the UAE was elected to ITU Council in 2006, the country heads two out of nine of council's working groups.

Hamadoun Toure, ITU Secretary-General, said: "The UAE has always played a major role in contributing to the ITU. In the field of ICT, the UAE has made major achievements and the strong relations between ITU and the UAE will be good for the country."

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