CABSAT footfall surges as trade visitors from Algeria to Zimbabwe throng DWTC

"CABSAT has evoked an anticipated response, since the show had grown phenomenally, the visitor turnout and deals concluded follow suit. The visitor count was higher right from day one and crossed the 6,000 mark on day two itself clearing the visitor figure of 6,112 achieved over three days in 2004," said DWTC Director General, Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri.

A number of participating companies both local and international were unanimous in their praise for the quality of the visitor turnout. Several exhibitors concluded deals at the three-day event including Homecast who signed a US$3.5 million contract to supply 50,000 receivers to Al Majd Satellite TV according to Billy Hwang, GM Homecast Gulf.

A wide array of electronic media products, equipment and accessories went on display with over 400 companies from 50 countries displaying cutting edge solutions at the biggest-ever gathering of electronic media and communications companies in the Middle East.

CABSAT 2005 focused on three main areas: cable and satellite equipment and accessories, communications and broadcast & production.

The CABSAT 2005 Broadcasting Conference organised by the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union, in association with Arab States Broadcasting Union and in co-operation with the International Association Of Broadcasting Manufacturers turned out to be a well-attended affair.

While the inaugural Middle East Satellite Summit organised by the Global Satellite Forum (GVF) provided delegates with valuable insights into broadcasting and telecommunications applications, the latest regulatory and policy trends, state-of-the-art technology, and successful business models.

Emirates Cable TV and Multimedia (E-Vision) teamed up with Thomson, the leading global entertainment technology provider, to offer superior quality viewing through its cable system. The partnership will allow E-Vision to employ Thomson's technology to deliver over its cable network High Definition Television (HDTV) content, which is as close to life-like as television can be.

IBM Middle East partnering with major market players showcased some of the industry's broadest range of digital media technologies designed to help publishers, TV and radio stations, advertising agencies as well as large enterprises manage, store and work with huge amounts of digital data in real time, easily and cost effectively.

Panasonic, the world's leading global manufacturer of consumer electronics, telecommunication products and Broadcast & Professional products, put on display its revolutionary P2 (Professional Plug-in) technology at CABSAT.