The total number of 3G subscribers in the Middle East region is expected to cross the four million mark by the end of 2010, which represents a 60% CAGR, according to a report from RNCOS, a leading market research and information analysis company.
Given that recent global Internet penetration reports have also shown that key Middle East countries like Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE have posted high household broadband penetration, and Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest country, is also starting to post growth in broadband penetration, the demand for the latest services is set to continue. Netgar, a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, has announced its plans to deliver new technologies and products to service providers that can best suit the demands of their subscribers.
The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has pointed out that Internet service providers, both in the UAE and the rest of the region, have already started to implement new technologies and services in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP), faster broadband, and the opening up of the telecommunications market. Widely accepted that high-quality and widespread broadband access enhances a country’s economy and boosts both the public and private sector, the report also shares that UAE broadband traffic and smartphone usage is currently the highest in the region.
The TRA has also revealed that the liberalization of data centers and cloud computing will be the next big trends in the industry, and these trends will be the Authority’s national focus in the next few years.
“More and more people in the Middle East region are expected to make the 3G / 4G shift by the end of 2010; an increase expected to be so big that it will actually shatter the four million subscriber marker,” said Ahmad Zeidan, Channel Sales Manager, NETGEAR Middle East. “Consumers have become more open to the use of modern technology and integrating it in their daily functions. NETGEAR sees this growing demand and would like to capitalize on it by introducing new technologies and services to the region’s ISP’s – offering key technologies that seek to enhance mobile connectivity and home security. Moreover, we remain upbeat about this growth and we aim to reinforce partnerships in key areas like KSA and Qatar.”