13 April, 2014 du becomes Middle East's first GCF Field Test Qualified Operator

du, the fastest-growing telecommunications company in the Middle East, announced that it is the first company in the Middle East to become a Field Test Qualified Operator (FTQO), of the Global Certification Forum (GCF). This represents another first for the company, adding another layer to its telecoms and technology capabilities.

The GCF is responsible for certifying new mobile devices such as handsets, tablets, dongles, MiFis, and routers. The purpose of the GCF is to give operators confidence in the interworking of newly introduced mobile devices especially at this time where technology and market growth are developing so quickly. GCF has a global membership of operators, manufacturers and the test industry. 

Field Trials are an important part of the GCF certification process; du is the first GCF Field Trial Qualified Operator (FTQO) in the region, and thereby providing its network to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on which to conduct their Field Tests. Thus, we will confirm that new devices are interoperable with our network, and gain assurance that devices sold to our customers will work with roaming partners and that inbound roaming devices will operate satisfactorily on our network. Being an FTQO will also enhance information sharing with leading device manufacturers, and give technical insights that can be used to optimize our network and enhance our customer experience.

"This is an exciting move for us, which will allow us to create an even more seamless experience for our customers," said Saleem Al-Balooshi, Executive Vice President, Network Development and Operations, du. "As the first to hold this certification in the Middle East, we can offer our customers the reassurance that their device, whether a smartphone, tablet or otherwise, is absolutely compatible with our own network, and with those used by our international partners. This will further enhance customer experience levels, which is our ultimate goal in all that we do."

He added, "Being a GCF Field Trial Qualified Operator will also allow us to better support the Smart City initiative that is driven by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Seamless connectivity will help to encourage the development of Smart City initiatives by allowing connectivity anywhere, anytime."

When our network is used for GCF Field Trials, du will ensure that new devices will be end-to-end tested against its state of the art HSPA+/ 4G LTE network. In addition, du's network will be used in field tests of new devices that will be available to customers from any sales point in the UAE, ensuring the quality of experience is increased for all customers regardless of the channel the devices were acquired from. 

du is currently encouraging leading device manufactures to conduct GCF Field Trials in its network as part of the GCF certification process. This will provide valuable insights into the interoperability of new devices on the company's network.

-Ends-

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