No plans for third operator, regulator says

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued a statement saying that it does not, at this time, have any intention to license a third operator in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) telecoms market. The announcement comes in response to reports that the regulator was considering opening up the sector to new players in 2015, and in its statement the TRA has reaffirmed that the market’s two operators, Etisalat and Du, are currently meeting the needs of the UAE market. ‘The TRA sees no need to add a new operator to the UAE market at this time; hence it has no immediate intention to do so,’ commented H.E. Majed Al Mesmar, TRA deputy director general, adding: ‘What was circulated in few local newspapers is misleading and does not accurately express the actual statements of the TRA regarding the issue.’