The role that UAE nationals play in engaging initiatives to champion business continuity is a growing core competency
Saleem AlBlooshi,
Chief infrastructure officer at du
The role that UAE nationals play in engaging initiatives to champion business continuity is a growing core competency within our vibrant Emirati workforce. In the UAE’s ranking in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report, the development of human capital and the country’s ability to cope with environmental disasters are listed as some of the most important areas regarded by decision-makers.
Stemming from this, the scope of the UAE government’s Society and Vision 2021 has installed a Human Development Index as a core pillar to measure the nation’s progress in the years ahead. At the forefront of enabling this vision, the telecom industry’s Emirati employees are deploying a range of capabilities and skillsets to overcome challenges to the sector’s operations.
Disaster preparedness across the UAE’s key sectors is essential in safeguarding the effectiveness of emergency response operations during times of real crisis. Because the UAE, like many other countries around the world, is susceptible to various natural hazards, we must offset our geographic vulnerability with effective disaster responses to mitigate the effects of environmental risks.
Thankfully, in the telecom sector, we have a talented core cluster of capable Emiratis actively enabling the industry’s readiness to lead an efficient response in times of national emergency. We hold a significant responsibility to ensure the safety and lives of all our citizens and residents in the face of disasters. In line with the vision of the leadership, UAE nationals are a principal element in championing this initiative to lead efficient responses in times of national emergency. To remain consistent with the country’s sustainable development goals, it’s necessary for the UAE’s telco operators to ensure efficient service continuity, technical know-how and human skills in emergency response situations.
In a recent Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) exercise, representatives from EITC’s infrastructure, consumer, enterprise, UAE call centre, smart ICT operations, corporate services, Virgin Mobile and human resources departments and business units played vital roles in establishing service continuity for the UAE’s telecom industry through a disaster simulation. Comprising 52 UAE national employees, our team participating in the simulation brought with them 400 years of combined experience.
Tasked within the framework of the TRA’s ‘Telecom business continuity in emergency, crisis and disaster’ initiative, the recent Sada Al Barg exercise was conducted using a hypothetical scenario where a tropical tornado, accompanied by thunderstorms across the UAE, prevented telecom employees from reaching their workstations. The two-day exercise also included the establishment of a customer service centre within the camp; stationing mobile vehicles equipped with transmission stations for mobile phones; providing equipped mobile service centres to facilitate provision of services to the customers, including maintenance services for mobile, fixed lines and home Internet to name a few. Displaying their capabilities through a collective effort of 384 hours of knowledge transfer, EITC’s participants ensured optimum levels of readiness across the main stages of response to a natural phenomenon, which include prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
The entire effort from our end was led by capable Emiratis to demonstrate the industry’s capacities in times of crisis. Showing prowess via hypothetical industryled scenarios, like the recent Sada Al Barq exercise, the UAE telco sector is in safe hands and initiating best-in-class approaches to ensure appropriate emergency response and effective recovery plans are in place to enable the continuity of our telecom services should disaster strike.
As we move forward, we must remain proactive to find sufficient alternatives to drive business and network continuity and sustainability in such situations. Public safety is considered a key pillar in the establishment of the smart city vision. Because of this we will continue to invest in the preparedness of our people and in our network infrastructure to safeguard the nation for future generations. When embracing the UAE leadership’s mission to nurture and develop homegrown talent, companies need to be devoutly committed towards facilitating leadership and development of their employees.
The success of their responses to projected national crises hinges on their preparedness towards achieving optimum levels of effective planning to face possible telecom outages. In view of this, I believe the wealth of our Emirati talent is testament to the successful completion of key industry initiatives and the proactive engagement in responding to all aspects of emergencies in accordance with global best standards and practices.
Disaster preparedness across the UAE’s key sectors is essential in safeguarding the effectiveness of emergency response operations