Regional telecom showcase opens tomorrow

Current and active civil engineering and infrastructure projects of all kinds in the GCC countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have a combined value of $1.3 trillion alone, according to research company Proleads.

Based on an estimated 25% of infrastructure development budgets in the Gulf Co-operation Council countries being spent on expanding telecommunications, MECOM 2008 organisers say the regional market could be worth up to a staggering $375m over the next decade.

That level of expenditure has been a catalyst for local, regional and international telecom' companies to secure exhibition space at MECOM, including Abu Dhabi Media Company, Arvato, Blackberry, BT, du, Ericsson, Etisalat, GMS Voipmonster, Itqan, Maktoob, Panasonic, TRA and Yahsat.

MECOM is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and showcases the latest in hardware, software and services related this dynamic industry sector.

Global telecom industry leaders are also descending on Abu Dhabi to participate at The MECOM summit. More than 50 representatives from international telecoms solutions providers such as Alcatel Lucent, Ericsson, Tektronix and Motorola will debate the issues affecting a fast growing market.

In addition a debate on the liberalising of the Middle East telecommunications sector will take place at the Connect: Strategic Telecoms Summit running alongside MECOM. The Summit will also discuss the latest trends shaping the industry, prospects for future market growth, investment opportunities and the expectations for regional uptake of 3G and WiMax.

"The telecoms market in the Middle East has some of the highest growth rates in the world and with liberalisation spreading throughout the region, the environment is ripe for further investment, innovation, and higher usage rates,"

said David Hirst, Director of MECOM 2008, organised by IIR Middle East.

Now in its second year, MECOM is officially supported by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the UAE and Dubai Internet City. ICT Industry Partner for the event is Dubai Internet City. Platinum sponsors are etisalat, the UAE Information and Communication Technology Fund and du. Gold sponsors are Ericsson, Blackberry, EMS and the Abu Dhabi Media Company.