TRA warns du on missing deadline

The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has censured second national operator (SNO) du over missing a licence deadline to offer fixed line telephone services. In a statement from the TRA, du was warned ‘for failing to meet its licence obligations with respect to providing national and international call services from homes and offices in the UAE by dates specified in the licence.’ The regulator added that the delay undermined competition in the industry, but it had agreed on an extension, without providing dates. Osman Sultan, CEO of du, said he needed clarity from the TRA regarding when his firm must offer fixed line services, and direction from the government, which would, ‘give us access to customers.’ He added, ‘We hope to be able to offer voice calls for customers in the UAE sometime before the end of the year,’ without specifying a date.