Gulf countries are forecast to spend up to $4.5 billion on IT and communications hardware for new civil projects between now and 2011, according to figures released by a database firm.

The estimation was made by project database company Proleads and comes ahead of Middle East Communications (Mecom) exhibition and conference which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from May 25 to 27.

Mecom brings together the region’s major operators and service providers to provide a major platform for multi-million dollar deals and partnerships throughout the region.

The exhibition is the region’s only dedicated communications for enterprise trade show, which will also host leaders of the top telecommunication companies and regulators throughout the Middle East and Africa.

The Proleads forecast for communications hardware capital expenditure covers all six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The UAE forecast amounts to nearly $3.3 billion of the total, which takes into account infrastructure demand for materials such communications cabling.

The forecast also indicates that mixed use civil projects will account for the biggest proportion of communication hardware expenditure in the period at around $2.95 billion.

Residential development will account for a further $674 million and commercial developments such as airports, offices, hotels, railways and retail for about $577 million.

“The continued growth of information technology and communications infrastructure continues to be a major element in the development of the region in spite of slowdowns in other sectors,” said Ed Malkoun, group exhibition director of IIR Middle East, organisers of Mecom 2009.

“On a worldwide basis, fixed broadband internet lines have reached 1.1 billion - only one sixth of the world's population,” he added.

“Regional figures are still low as Saudi Arabia, the biggest market, has a penetration of only four per cent. But, as the Proleads data shows, residential and mixed developments are taking up broadband services aggressively.”

Last year Mecom attracted 5,640 business-to-business visitors from 49 different countries. IIR Middle East, the organiser of Mecom is confident of increased trade participation this year, said a statement. – TradeArabia News Service