Broadband subscribers increase by 48% in the Middle East

Dubai: The number of broadband subscribers in the Middle East increased by 48 per cent in 2007 compared to 2006 due to the soaring demand and inadequate broadband infrastructure.

An RNCOS report says that throughout the region, incumbent and alternative fixed-line operators are rolling out Internet Protocol Television, helping the operators better maintain their main-line base and gradually increase spending per customer in the face of falling ADSL prices.

"In 2007, Israel dominated the broadband market followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE while the total number of 3G subscribers is expected to surpass four million by 2011, growing at a growth rate of about 60 per cent," it said.

Egypt is expected to report the highest growth in its broadband subscriber base among the Middle Eastern countries with a rate of more than 83 per cent from 2008 to 2010.

"High demand for Information and Communications Technology [ICT] products and services in the region is making it an attractive proposition for the development of high-speed broadband access market.

"The UAE is expected to become the region's premier ICT hub due to its heavy investments, which are aimed at boosting the technological potential of the country and the benefits of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and its free trade zones," Jacques Chammas, managing director, Mindware, said.

Bashar Dahabra, Founder and CEO of Info2cell.com, said various telecoms service providers are implementing various initiatives to improve the situation.