Etisalat to launch FTTH in Abu Dhabi in Q3

Etisalat announced it's racing against time to complete the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of this year to make the emirate the world's first city to have such a network.

"We completed 70 per cent of the network in Abu Dhabi city. Within a few months the whole network will be complete," Ahmed Darwish, General Manager at Tamdeed Projects, one of etisalat Services Holding's subsidiaries responsible for the network's implementation in Abu Dhabi, told Emirates Business.

He added Abu Dhabi is included in the first phase of the fibre-optic network, which will be executed throughout the country subsequently. More than 2,000 technicians are working day and night to complete the network at the UAE level. Some 50 per cent of the network is complete in Dubai, while the network's installation is still in its first phase in the Northern Emirates.

Tamdeed finished the installation of 300,000 out of total 1.4 million optic fibre-optic devices in the UAE. The whole network in the UAE is projected to be complete in 2011, when the UAE will become the region's first country to have an integral fibre-optic network.

Tamdeed started the network installation in Abu Dhabi in 2007. Abu Dhabi was selected first because it is the capital of the UAE and because it is easy to install the network as the majority of the buildings are new in the capital.

"Tamdeed's technicians installed the fibre-optic network instead of the old copper devices, which are linked with internet and land line, in majority of homes and shops in Abu Dhabi. The fibre-optic cable is capable of transferring huge data, pictures and information. The cable also has few maintenance problems; its virtual age is longer and cost lower. In future, the cable will provide several services, including land line, internet and satellite channels, through one wire. Clients will get just one monthly bill for all the services they subscribe to.

"Initially, majority of people expected etisalat to charge for the network's installation. However, they are now reassured that the network is installed free, and are wholeheartedly co-operating with Tabreed," he said.

Meanwhile, etisalat Academy and Tamdeed projects are looking to train and recruit 60 FTTH technicians. Authorities are looking for candidates who have work experience as technicians, installers and cable jointers and who wish to be trained as FTTH technicians. Applicants who successfully complete the training programme will be offered a one-year contract with Tamdeed, working on the installation of fibre-optic networks across the UAE.

"The future of telecommunications is being driven by bandwidth-hungry services such as video and business applications. This places increasing stress on the communications infrastructure and drives the need for fibre optic cables. The knowledge that we will impart to these 60 candidates will last them for many years to come, guaranteeing a better life for their families today and in the future," said Darwish.

The training programme will last seven days and consists of continual assessment of both theoretical and practical work, which will culminate in an exam. The training will take place at the etisalat Academy in Dubai.

The course is subsidised and approximately 60 per cent of the cost will be covered by Tamdeed Projects. The applicant will have to contribute Dh3,900 towards the training, which will be returned to them after completing one year of service with Tamdeed.

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