4G could arrive in Gulf next year

Dubai: Fourth generation (4G) cellular wireless technology could be introduced in the Gulf region by 2010-11, said the founder and CEO of Info2cell.com

"More than 60 per cent of the region's population comprises of tech-savvy youth with enough spending power to change mobile units every few months," Bashar Dahabra, Founder and CEO of Info2cell.com, said

He said the outlook for 3G services in the UAE is very positive for 2010 and "we expect lots of 3G services to be launched through the year. 3G subscriber base in the Gulf region is expected to remain steady at around 35 per cent next year.

"A 4G system may upgrade existing communication networks and is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure IP-based solution where facilities such as voice chat, mobile TV, HDTV content, digital video broadcasting, data and streamed multimedia will be provided to users on an ‘anytime, anywhere' basis and at much higher data rates compared to previous generations," he said.

"The mobile phone industry has so far progressed through three major generations of technology. The latest 3G, technically called International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 [IMT-2000], offers a wide range of services within a mobile environment."

Potential

He said 3G has huge potential in the Middle East, where many countries are pursuing a transition to a digital society. In the UAE alone, mobile phone subscription is expected to sustain a compound annual growth rate of around 25 per cent through 2012 to hit 2.4 million.

In the early months of 2009, the UAE set a new world record for the number of mobile phone lines per person at two.

With regard to 3G patronage, the increasing availability and affordability of 3G phones and services led to an estimated 22 per cent increase in the Emirates' 3G handset sales in 2008 over 2007.

Globally, mobile data traffic growth is expected to double annually and possibly surpass voice traffic by 2011, with 3G leading the surge.

He said as the Middle East transforms into a knowledge-based community, this mobility standard will be embraced by more mobile users who want only the best in wireless telecommunications capabilities.