Thursday 28 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

11pc ME mobile subscription growth expected

Dubai, December 24, 2008

The Middle East region represents one of the world’s fastest growing mobile subscription markets with a 47 per cent year-over-year increase in 2008.

This is happening even as the world economy struggles and slows, according to figures from Informa Telecoms & Media at this year’s GSM 3G Middle East Conference in Dubai.

Globally, subscription growth of 11.7 per cent is still expected for 2009, driven by increasingly mobile and growing populations, but the economies of Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East will be the engine for this growth, with a regional forecast of more than 15 per cent subscription growth for the next year, said a senior official.

In contrast, growth of just below five per cent is expected in Western Europe and 5.6 per cent in North America in 2009.

Mobile penetration in Arab countries reached 56 per cent at end of the second half of 2008, although this figure is much higher across GCC markets, with the more mature markets expected to see a surge in wireless broadband usage as operators look to develop their networks and drive an increase in data traffic levels in 2009.

Some of the most dynamic economies in the Gulf are already seeing a surge in the use of Wi-max and broadband technology.

The new data was unveiled by chairman of GSM Arab World, the regional representative body of the wireless industry representing mobile operators in 22 Arab countries and 199 million customers, Abdulaziz Fakhroo as part of his welcoming address entitled “GSM/3G Status and Future Opportunities in Arab Countries.”

“The region is still seeing growth rates in mobile subscriber numbers that are higher than the economies of Europe and the Americas, and this lead seems set to widen in 2009. With each new generation of broadband technology, the nations of the Arab world are enjoying an increasing range of social and economic benefits that are enabling people to benefit from the good times and be resilient in the more challenging ones,” said Fakhroo, who is divisional manager, Wireless Networks at Qtel.

In particular, he noted that – in spite of the slowing economies – mobile broadband technologies are likely to increase in importance in 2009, because of the benefits delivered for the knowledge economies of nations, which are becoming more valuable as commodity prices fall.

Fakhroo noted that regionally, Arab countries have been able to realize significant value by supporting the growth of their knowledge economies.

Now in its 13th year, the GSM 3G Middle East Conference is the Middle East's leading communications conference and exhibition.  The conference brings together 2,500 telecom decision makers from across the whole communications value chain - mobile and fixed line operators, internet service providers, regulators, investors, telecoms solution vendors, content providers and more, 160 exhibitors and 65 expert speakers for agenda setting and strategic debate. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Mobile | Qtel | GSM |

More IT & Telecommunications Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads