The ‘RIPE 75’ meeting, hosted by the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) kicked off on 22nd October with participation from local, regional and international players in telecoms and information and communications technology (ICT).
Internet
Organsiations such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, Nokia, Deutsche Telekom, Netflix, Orange, Omantel, OGERO, VIVA, du, and Etisalat were among the participants at the event.
The meeting represents a major step towards supporting UAE’s efforts to create an integrated infrastructure aimed at positioning the country as a global leader in Electronic/Smart Transformation Index by 2021.
During the summit, RIPE Network coordination Centre managing director Axel Paulk signed two memorandums of understanding. The first was with the TRA, which was represented by Hamad Al Mansoori, director general, TRA and second was with the American University of Beirut, represented by Dr. Youssef Asfour, CIO, AUB, which was aimed at strengthening the cooperation and exchange of expertise among the different sectors involved in further developing the Internet.
The MoUs are aimed at improving Internet-based researches and activities and enhance the operational efficiency of networks in the Middle East.
Furthemore, both MoUs serve as a push towards developing Internet services by organising a series of programmes and awareness campaigns about IPv6 and other technologies.
The MoUs also promotes ‘RIPE Atlas’, a global, open, advanced Internet Measurement Platform aimed at providing a global network of analyses that measure Internet connectivity and reachability, apart from a bundle of effective tools to help measure the performance of Internet data within the local, regional and international Internet clusters. Among other initiatives include the ‘RIPE Academic Cooperation Initiative’ (RACI), which serves as a platform for promoting and strengthening the links between the students and scholars and the Internet community through meetings, conferences, and other activities. RIPE NCC and the TRA also agreed to cooperate with universities and research centers in the UAE for briefing students and researchers on the latest Internet-related innovations and developments.
