Convergent services inevitable as Arab world's cellular and broadcast market boom continues

Under the patronage of HE Mr. Bassem Al Rousan, Jordan's Minister of ICT, Arab Advisors is organising the Fourth Annual Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference, set to take place in Amman on the 4th-5th of June.

By May 2007, the Arab world's total number cellular operators stood at a total of 46 with 4 more expected to start operations during 2007.

Arab cellular operators managed to grow their subscribers' base by more than 43% in 2006 to reach 125 million cellular users -by end of 2006- up from 87 million in 2005. In parallel, the Arab world's broadcast industry continues to churn new stations: In October 2006, FTA channels targeting the Arab world (on Arabsat and Nilesat) stood at 263 channels. By January 2007, a total of 27 new FTA satellite channels started broadcasting on Arabsat, Nilesat and/or privately owned Noorsat raising the total to 290 stations.

'The Arab world's telecom and broadcast supply boom will forge convergent services as operators chase revenues in non-traditional areas. Speakers and delegates at Arab Advisors' Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference 2007 will deliberate threats and opportunities inherent in this unprecedented boom,' Arab
Advisors' Founder and General Manager Jawad J. Abbassi commented. 'All but one Arab cellular market had competition by 2007. Together with the growth in free to air Sat TV stations and ever more intense competition between telecom operators, the priority of content, VAS and convergence-based services will rise on the radar screens of all stakeholders' added Abbassi.

Dubai-based Oger Telecom is the Main Sponsor of the Arab Advisors' Fourth Annual Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference 2007. Oger Telecom is one of the region's leading Full Services telecom conglomerates with over 30 million lines under management.

The annual conference also received the support and sponsorship from Paltel Group (Palestine), Kalaam Telecom (Bahrain), Xpress (Jordan), Jordan Telecom Group, Fastlink (Jordan), QUALCOMM (United States), Optimiza (Jordan), AdaptiveMobile (Ireland) and Glimmerglass (United States).

40 visionary executives and industry leaders will address the conference, with close to 400 delegates expected to attend. As part of its vision to advance the knowledge and technology industries in the Arab World, the Arab Advisors Group has waived the delegate fees for telecom and broadcast operators. Moreover, registering delegates receive their choice of Arab Advisors Group reports.

The Fourth Annual Media and Telecommunications Convergence Conference 2007 will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman on June 4&5 2007 with the backing of 10 regional and global operators and companies.