Leading players from the IT industry will be in Dubai this March for the first-ever rural broadband summit that aims to provide the perfect platform for targeted discussion and thought-provoking analysis on key issues.

The Rural Broadband Summit, which kicks off on March 25, is being held as part of Broadband MEA, a premier event driving sustainable growth of broadband in the Middle East and Africa.

As MEA governments and industry players alike work towards bridging the digital divide to improve rural broadband, the summit will explore the opportunities and innovations required to achieve connectivity in these territories, said the organisers.

With a focus on Internet accessibility the 'Rural Broadband Summit 2012' will provide a vital opportunity to hear from exciting emerging players in the industry.

It also provides the perfect platform for targeted discussion and thought-provoking analysis of key issues, such as the challenges of making the economics of broadband delivery work for business and achieving ROI, the organisers added.

Ventura Team partner Richard Jones is set to chair the summit. 'It is incredibly important as an event as it deals with the unserved and under-served parts of the market - the parts that need attention to avoid the creation of digital divides and to support the rural economies,' Jones said.

Unique presentations from leading analysts at the summit will address the topic of navigating the regulation in different markets as well as other key areas in the broadband space.

A critical question to be debated on the day is the technology choices for rural broadband as well as rural network sharing, achieving return on investment from rural broadband network coverage and key trends around broadband connectivity in Africa.

Acting chairman, chief executive officer and head of Telecommunications Technologies Unit of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Lebanon, Imad Y Hoballah, will speak on working towards an efficient ICT sector policy (e-governance, e-commerce, e-health, e-education) to serve remote areas.

Hoballah's presentation will touch on matters such as the government's role in achieving broadband connectivity for remote areas, licensing obligations, development of local content and applications and technology innovations utilised in fast rural broadband deployment.-TradeArabia News Service