Al Ain /Â WAM
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has called on telecommunications devices retailers to avoid selling unapproved and unlicensed devices in the country and make sure these devices have authentic stickers provided by suppliers before selling them to customers.
The TRA has made the warning during an awareness workshop organised in Al Ain City in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, which aims to inform sellers and users about the risks of unapproved telecommunication devices or connect the devices to any telecommunication network in the country before approval. It could threaten the security and safety of users as well the telecoms networks, health, environment and social safety. Sales staff may verify the safety of devices by matching the IMEI number registration inside the device, which will be displayed on the device’s screen once the code *#06# is pressed.
The TRA said fake devices can be detected through various ways such as removing the brand logo from the main screen of the device as genuine devices have their brand names etched on the device. The accompanying music when the device is turned on can also show indication if it is counterfeit, as well by checking if the brand name is correctly spelled.
Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, TRA’s Deputy Director-General for Telecommunications Sector, said that all imported telecommunications devices are being checked for quality based on the country’s standards, which include users’ and network’s safety. The Type Approval system is approving and registering the telecommunications devices in the UAE before being imported according to specific laws, regulations and technical specifications.
Ahmad Al Shamsi, Senior Manager, Type Approval Section, noted: “We place high priority in the TRA to ensure the certification of all telecommunication devices available in the markets through the implementation of the Type Approval system.
The Type Approval system for radio and telecommunication devices is a method to verify that gadgets being imported or in-country manufactured devices do match the technical specifications and are duly noted through a registration with the TRA before being sold to retail markets, including tests that ensure the device will not have an adverse impact to consumers or network’s employees, and other technical devices, once connected.