Abu Dhabi: An ambitious fibre-to-home technology currently being implemented by etisalat is said to be capable of making the UAE the first country in the region to have 100 per cent broadband penetration by 2012, Sultan Bin Saeed al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said here yesterday.
Delivering the keynote address at the Abu Dhabi Telecoms CEO Summit, Al Mansouri said: "A superior ICT infrastructure that enables social and economic growth and keeps the UAE in the forefront of technology is an integral part of our development vision."
Citing Internet World Stats, Al Mansouri said the mobile penetration rate in the UAE has crossed 200 per cent and broadband penetration among households stood at 40 per cent in 2010.
He said telecommunications is an industry that has grown from strength to strength worldwide over the last decade, bucking even the global economic slowdown to a great extent.
Al Mansouri said the UAE telecommunications market is now seen as matured but that hasn't stopped its telecommunication companies from investing in expanding their coverage and product portfolio, while also generating substantial profits.
"Du, our second telecom operator, has forecast a nationwide rollout by the end of this year and 20 per cent growth in first quarter profits," he added.
Al Mansouri said the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has said that 2011 may be the biggest year in communications spending.
"TIA has also predicted that the Middle East and Africa will continue to be the fastest growing telecom markets this year," said Al Mansouri.
