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Hamad Al Mansouri: Apps lab will be created
800 smart government
services; no need for third
telecommunications operator
H.E. Hamad Al Mansouri, TRA Director-
General said that government services on
smart devices reached 800 services. He
said the mGovernment initiatives plan has
been completed.
On the margins of the ITU Forum on Smart
Sustainable Citieshosted by the TRA, Al
Mansouri explained that the preparation
plan for smart government initiatives needs
only now to complete stage two of the se-
cure service management initiative that
includes the government sector. The gov-
ernment e-transition plan is expected to be
completed by the end of the month.
Al Mansouri pointed out that the third stage
of the secure services initiative focuses on
the private sector and is scheduled to be
completed by 2017.
The TRA is currently working on encourag-
ing clients to use such services by creating
different types of services that should be
completed within two years by 2017.
Al Mansouri added that the TRA is work-
ing on creating a mobile app laboratory in
collaboration with global service providers.
The lab will be in charge of inspecting ser-
vices offered through various online stores
in order to maintain a safe and secure envi-
ronment for smartphone technology users.
On the smart city transformation, Al Man-
souri said, “Today, Masdar City leads global
smart city transformations. It is a pioneer-
ing experience for the UAE. Dubai smart
city transformation should come next. It
includes several initiatives currently under
implementation, including open data, big
data and combatting the breach of net-
works and smart devices initiatives”.
Al Mansouri added that there is no need
for a new operator to be present with re-
gard to licensing a new operator in the
telecommunications sector. He pointed out
that implementing the project of opening
networks and ending geographic monop-
oly for phone and fixed internet services
will be done soon. He said that opening
networks will be done in three stages, the
first of which will start soon. The provision
of this service will reflect positively on sub-
scribers.
mGovernment strategy.
2. m-Government roadmap: To identify the
m-Government action mechanism, along
with key initiatives to develop the gover-
nance model and supporting action plan.
3. Transition measurement method: To
document and record the assessment of
success of smart transition. These pillars
support the key tasks of the UAE m-Gov-
ernment that include providing training
and awareness to government employ-
ees, providing guidelines and technical
support to government entities in the
field of smart and mobile applications,
developing joint services and infrastruc-
ture for the m-Government, participating
in smart initiatives led by other govern-
ment agencies and providing feedback
and consultation in this framework. The
national plan team adopted a five-fold
approach starting with assessing the
current situation, which should serve as
a base to draft the m-Government gov-
ernance model, developing the strategy,
formulating the m-Government road-
map, then identifying smart transition
standards and designing an office for
project and governance model manage-
ment.
19
June
2014