C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002631

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB/CIP FOR AJILLSON AND IO/T
DEPT PASS NTIA AND FCC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/08
TAGS: ECPS AORC TC
SUBJECT: UAEG RESPONDS TO U.S. PROPOSALS FOR THE 2003
WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE (WRC-03)

REF: STATE 145955


1. (U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas

E. Williams for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


2. (U) This cable contains an action request; please see
paragraph 7.


3. (C) Summary: Econoff delivered ref demarche 6/1 to UAE
Ministry of Communications Undersecretary Abdullah Ahmed
Lootah, and met with Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications
Company International Affairs Manager Mohamed Al-Ghanim to
further discuss the U.S. proposals for WRC-03. Al-Ghanim
confirmed that the UAE, through its participation in the
Arab Common Proposal, is likely to support all of the U.S.
proposals except for Agenda Item 1.24. He also confirmed
that Undersecretary Lootah would head the UAE delegation to
WRC-03, which will consist of representatives from Thuraya,
UAE monopoly telecom provider Etisalat, UAE media outlets,
the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Telecom Office. End summary.


4. (C) Although the Arab countries are still fine-tuning
the Arab Common Proposal for WRC-03 -- the salient points
of which appear on ITU's website -- Al-Ghanim outlined for
Econoff the UAE's position regarding the U.S. proposals,
and speculated as to how each debate would be resolved. He
said that both the UAE and the Arab Common Proposal would
support the United States on Agenda Item 1.5 on Radars And
High Density Fixed And Mobile Services In The 5 GHz Band,
and Agenda Item 1.26 on Earth Stations On Vessels (ESVs),
although Al-Ghanim admitted that most countries will be
reluctant to sign any treaty that measures unregulated use
of ESVs from the "normal baseline" described in UNCLOS

1982. He mentioned that Syria continues to insist that
each administration should determine its own point of
measurement.


5. (C) Al-Ghanim stated that Agenda Item 1.24 on Allowing
Commercial Fixed Satellite Service More Access Into The
13.75-14.0 GhZ Band is very controversial, but is the most
important item for both the Arab countries (because of
Arabsat) and the United States. Our interlocutor admitted
that he is burdened by his responsibility to coordinate the
Arab countries' position on Agenda Item 1.24, which is
"very political." The UAE and Thuraya, furthermore, do not
have a direct interest in Agenda Item 1.24, but Al-Ghanim
hopes to find a middle-ground among the Arab countries. He
has heard from his EU colleagues that a number of European
countries will abandon the EU position on 1.24 and support
either the U.S. or Arab proposal.


6. (C) Agenda Item 1.31 on Additional Allocations To The
Mobile Satellite Service In The 1-3 Ghz Band is one of the
few topics in which the UAE -- and Thuraya, in particular -
- has a direct interest. The L Band spectrum that Thuraya
currently uses is nearing saturation, and the company's
future depends on allocation of a different band. Thuraya
has lobbied for MMS spectrum allocation since WRC-97, and
Al-Ghanim noted that WRC-03 is the company's last shot
until the next WRC in 2007. If Thuraya is permitted to use
MMS spectrum, it is likely that Boeing would build the
third Thuraya satellite to use this spectrum. Al-Ghanim
said that 17 of the 22 member countries have agreed to
support allocation of MMS into regions 1 and 3 at the WRC-

03. The Emirati official acknowledged that the FCC could
block approval of the proposal, but Thuraya believes it has
received assurances from DoD that the USG will support the
UAE's initiative.


7. (C) Comment and action request: Al-Ghanim is a very
competent technocrat and negotiator, having graduated from
Etisalat Technical College several years ago. He is an
Etisalat officer, seconded to Thuraya specifically for the
purpose of coordinating the Arab Common Proposal for WRC-

03. Al-Ghanim asked Post to relay the message that the UAE
delegation would like to meet with U.S. officials in Geneva
just prior to, or at the beginning of, WRC-03. He said
"there are a lot of issues to work out with the U.S. team
in advance." Such a meeting may provide an opportunity for
the U.S. delegates to seek concessions from the Emiratis on
Agenda Items 1.24 and 1.31. Post would appreciate any
guidance that we could pass to our interlocutor regarding
the possibility for such a meeting. End comment and action
request.

Wahba