By the end of 2008, 11 percent of the total population had ADSL/broadband accounts.
By the end of October 2008, the ISP Etisalat’s ADSL accounts constituted around 36
percent of the operator’s total fixed lines. 10
Etisalat remains the dominant telecom provider, but in the interests of competition
the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) facilitated the launch of
the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, named Du. Established in
2007, Du is an integrated telecommunications provider that offers voice, data, and
entertainment on mobile networks and converged broadband, television, and landline
services. 11
Competition in the broadband Internet market is limited because the two ISPs still
do not share each other’s networks, and Du is unable to offer broadband Internet or
landline telephone services outside of a handful of property developments in Dubai
where it owns the physical telephone network. 12 Because Etisalat has been the sole
telecom company for 30 years, it owns the national telephone network, based on
both copper-wire and new fiber-optic cables. 13
Legal and Regulatory Framework
A new draft media law is expected to be issued in 2009. The highest regulatory media
organization in the UAE, the National Media Council (NMC), claims the draft law
provides unprecedented provisions that protect and promote freedom of expression in
the country. It also states that the draft law, ‘‘provides journalists freedom from coercion to reveal sources, reflecting the government’s commitment to the journalistic
right to protect sources; in this particular regard, the pending law’s protection exceeds
that of many advanced democracies, including the United States.’’ 14
The pending law, passed by the Federal National Council in January 2009, was
rejected by the UAE Journalists Association because, according to the association’s
chairman, ‘‘It has nothing to do with the concept of media; it contains 45 articles
which don’t provide a proper description of the media’s duties and rights. Similarly,
there are 10 articles which talk about penalties and punishments.’’ 15
International advocacy groups have also expressed concerns over the draft law.
Human Rights Watch argues that the pending draft law unlawfully restricts free expression and will unduly interfere with the media’s ability to report on sensitive subjects,
and that it includes provisions that would grant the government virtually complete
control in deciding who is allowed to work as a journalist, as well as which media
organizations are allowed to operate in the country. Human Rights Watch further
states that while the new law contains some improvements over the draconian media
law currently in effect, it will continue to punish journalists for such infractions as
‘‘disparaging’’ government officials or publishing ‘‘misleading’’ news that ‘‘harms the
country’s economy.’’ 16
United Arab Emirates
591
By the end of October 2008, the ISP Etisalat’s ADSL accounts constituted around 36
percent of the operator’s total fixed lines. 10
Etisalat remains the dominant telecom provider, but in the interests of competition
the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) facilitated the launch of
the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, named Du. Established in
2007, Du is an integrated telecommunications provider that offers voice, data, and
entertainment on mobile networks and converged broadband, television, and landline
services. 11
Competition in the broadband Internet market is limited because the two ISPs still
do not share each other’s networks, and Du is unable to offer broadband Internet or
landline telephone services outside of a handful of property developments in Dubai
where it owns the physical telephone network. 12 Because Etisalat has been the sole
telecom company for 30 years, it owns the national telephone network, based on
both copper-wire and new fiber-optic cables. 13
Legal and Regulatory Framework
A new draft media law is expected to be issued in 2009. The highest regulatory media
organization in the UAE, the National Media Council (NMC), claims the draft law
provides unprecedented provisions that protect and promote freedom of expression in
the country. It also states that the draft law, ‘‘provides journalists freedom from coercion to reveal sources, reflecting the government’s commitment to the journalistic
right to protect sources; in this particular regard, the pending law’s protection exceeds
that of many advanced democracies, including the United States.’’ 14
The pending law, passed by the Federal National Council in January 2009, was
rejected by the UAE Journalists Association because, according to the association’s
chairman, ‘‘It has nothing to do with the concept of media; it contains 45 articles
which don’t provide a proper description of the media’s duties and rights. Similarly,
there are 10 articles which talk about penalties and punishments.’’ 15
International advocacy groups have also expressed concerns over the draft law.
Human Rights Watch argues that the pending draft law unlawfully restricts free expression and will unduly interfere with the media’s ability to report on sensitive subjects,
and that it includes provisions that would grant the government virtually complete
control in deciding who is allowed to work as a journalist, as well as which media
organizations are allowed to operate in the country. Human Rights Watch further
states that while the new law contains some improvements over the draconian media
law currently in effect, it will continue to punish journalists for such infractions as
‘‘disparaging’’ government officials or publishing ‘‘misleading’’ news that ‘‘harms the
country’s economy.’’ 16
United Arab Emirates
591