Inmarsat seeks UAE licence
Monday 25 October 2010 | 15:09 CET
UK-based satellite firm Inmarsat is holding talks with the UAE regulatory authorities to obtain a licence to launch its services and products in the country, Emirates 24/7 reports citing a senior official. Helene Bazzi, Senior Area Manager for Middle East, Africa and CIS, said negotiations started last year with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) for the licence. Bazzi said Inmarsat was in discussion with the TRA to either have the GMCS licence like an operator or to work with a licensed operator in the country to distribute services. Inmarsat offers mobile satellite services, and the talks with TRA are specifically about regularising these services, she said. In August, Inmarsat announced USD 1.2 billion in investments in a next-generation Ka-band satellite network which will be operational on 2014.