POLICY

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)

P O Box 26662, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

www.tra.gov.ae

POLICY

National Roaming Services

Version 1.0

Issue Date 30th April 2005

Regulatory Policy, Directory information, Version 2.1, Issued 14

September 2009

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1. Legislative Background

In accordance with Federal Law by Decree 3/2003 and its Executive Order,

Federal Law:

Article 12 ‘The Authority is the competent body to oversee the telecommunica-

tions sector in the State and all Licensees in accordance with this Federal Law

by Decree, its Executive Order and the instructions of the Supreme Commit-

tee.’

Article 13 ‘The Authority shall exercise its functions and powers under this

Federal Law by Decree and its Executive Order to:

(1) ensure that the Telecommunication Services provided throughout the

State are sufficient to satisfy the public demands of those who wish

to make use of such services;

(2) enhance the level of services provided by the telecommunication

sector in order to promote the interest of users…’

Article 14 ‘’…the Authority shall have the power to issue regulations, orders,

resolutions and procedures in relation to:

(2) the Interconnection of and access to Telecommunication Networks

and Telecommunication Services provided by the Licensees, and the

co-location of assets and sharing of infrastructure by such Licensees,

including the terms, conditions and prices of such Interconnection,

access, co-location and sharing, the time-scales and rules for the

negotiation and finalisation between such operators of agreements in

relation to the foregoing matters and the dispute resolution policies

between the parties to such agreements;

Regulatory Policy, Directory information, Version 2.1, Issued 14

September 2009

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(3) the terms and level of services provided by the Licensees to users,

including the standards and quality of service provided, the terms

and conditions of supply of such services, the handling and resolu-

tion of user complaints and disputes, the provision of information to

users, the use of user information and the rendering of bills to us-

ers;…’

1. Article 38 ‘The Authority shall take any needed action as deemed

necessary to facilitate the process of Interconnection and to monitor the

compliance of all parties to the provisions of the Interconnection Agreements.

The Authority shall have all the powers which will enable it to achieve the

foregoing.’

2. Article 39

(1) ‘Where there is a dispute in relation to Interconnection the parties to

the dispute may refer the dispute to the Authority for adjudication and

the issuance of binding resolutions.

(2) The Authority shall adjudicate disputes referred in accordance with

this Article as specified in the Executive Order.’

Article 41 ‘Etisalat and any of its subsidiaries shall, at the direction of the Au-

thority, satisfy in a timely, efficient and least cost manner all requests from a Li-

censee for Interconnection, co-location or sharing of sites and facilities at the

best point as determined by the Authority. In particular Etisalat shall:

(1) comply with any regulations, guidelines or licence conditions issued

pursuant to the provisions of this Federal Law by Decree or its

Executive Order relating to Interconnection, co-location or sharing of

sites and facilities;

(2) subject to the regulations issued pursuant to the provisions of this

Federal Law by Decree or its Executive Order, offer and provide

Interconnection, co-location or sharing of sites and facilities on terms

and conditions (including as to cost and quality) which are in

accordance with best international practice;

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(3) Facilitate, provide facilities and information concerning

Interconnection, co-location and sharing of sites to Licensees and

their subsidiaries under the same conditions and of the same quality

as Etisalat provides for its own services or those of its subsidiaries or

companies.’

The Executive Order:

Article 49 ‘In performing its obligations under the Federal Law by Decree and

this Executive Order in relation to network Interconnection, co-location and

sharing of facilities, the Authority may do any of the following:

(5) …issue the regulations, directives, decisions and governing rules for

domestic roaming services.’

2. National Roaming Services Policy

In accordance with Federal Law by Decree 3/2003, Article 14, the TRA has deter-

mined that Etisalat is required to offer National Roaming Services on its network to the

second mobile licensee.

The obligation of Etisalat to provide National Roaming Services to the operator of the

second mobile license decreases in relationship to the rollout of the second licensee’s

mobile network, as specified in its license.

Etisalat shall be obliged to provide National Roaming Services in the geographic

and/or population coverage areas not covered by the second mobile licensee in ac-

cordance with its mobile network rollout as specified in its license.

The TRA will inform both licensees when Etisalat’s requirement to offer national roam-

ing expires.

Regulatory Policy, Directory information, Version 2.1, Issued 14

September 2009

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3. National Roaming Services Offering

National Roaming Services shall be offered in accordance with TRA Guidelines – In-

terconnection, Version 1.1, Issued 2

, April 2005.

In accordance with Federal Law by Decree 3/2003, Article 41 (3), Etisalat shall offer

National Roaming Services at the same quality as Etisalat provides for its own ser-

vices or those of its subsidiaries or companies. For example, call handover shall be

transparent to end users, whereby end users do not experience any interruptions in

service when being transferred from one licensee’s network to another.

End users of both licensees shall be able to reach all telephone numbers in the UAE.

To the extent it is technically possible and economically feasible, GSM supplementary

services offered by Etisalat to its end users shall be offered as part of National Roam-

ing Service.

4. National Roaming Services Agreement

In accordance with Federal Law by Decree 3/2003, Article 41, Etisalat shall negotiate

with the second mobile licensee the terms, conditions and prices for National Roaming

Services.

The National Roaming Services Agreement between the licensees shall be submitted

to the TRA for review prior to signature.

In accordance with Federal Law by Decree 3/2003, Article 39, any negotiating dis-

putes may be referred to the TRA for adjudication and the issuance of binding resolu-

tions.