TRA Releases 2010 ICT Survey Results

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Monday, December 27th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has released the results of an extensive survey examining the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services in the UAE.


A total of 2,109 households and 2,133 individuals participated in the TRA’s study, which was undertaken during the course of 2010. The survey spanned multiple services including fixed telephony, mobile telephony and the Internet.


The survey examined many factors, which cover different areas in the ICT sector such as the extent to which households and individuals in the UAE have access to ICT services and the extent to which households and individuals in the UAE use, in terms of time and spend. Furthermore the survey measures the ICT services that users are connected to and the extent to which users are satisfied with their ICT services.


H. E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General said: “: “the survey results provide a realistic picture of the development achieved in ICT sector during the recent years. The latest international methods and technologies had been used while conducting the survey to ensure the maximum degree of credibility.”


The survey found that while over 99% of individuals in the UAE have mobile phones, only 46% of households have fixed line phones as many prefer the use of a mobile phone only. The survey also found that 63% of household have an Internet connection, of which 88% are broadband connections. The most popular Internet based activities undertaken in the UAE are emailing and visiting social networking sites.


The survey revealed that consumers are generally satisfied with their ICT services; 93% are satisfied with their overall fixed line services, 86% with their overall mobile services, and 89% with their overall Internet services.


The survey also examined the extent to which individuals in the UAE use social networking sites. It founds that 55% of individuals have set up a profile on a social networking site. 97% of these profiles are on Facebook. 69% of users typically visit the social networking sites they have profiles on at least every two days.


A detailed report of this survey can be found on: www.tra.gov.ae



About TRA

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been established according to the UAE Federal Law by Decree No. 3 of 2003 – Telecom Law. TRA is responsible for the management of every aspect of the telecommunications and information technology industries in the UAE. Despite its relatively short life-span, TRA has exceeded expectations by achieving its projected goals in record time.



TRA derives the objectives of the Code of the telecommunications sector and its senior executive and policy for the telecommunications sector. These goals ensure secure communications services throughout the State, and delivery of improved services, including the quality and diversity, and ensure the quality of services in conformity with the terms of the license by the licensor, and the promotion of telecommunications services and information technology in the state, and the promotion of the telecommunications sector and development of the country through training and development and the establishment of training institutions relevant to the sector, as well as to find solutions to disputes that may arise between the licensed operators, and establish and implement a framework for policies and regulations, and the promotion of modern technology, and contribute to the development of human resources in the state, and to promote research and development, including guarantees of the United Arab Emirates a regional role of an advanced leadership in the field of telecommunications and information technology.


For media enquiries, please contact:

Mrs. Huda Al Mutawa
Director, Corporate Communications Affair
UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Tel: +9712-6118250
Email: huda.almutawa@tra.gov.ae