TV Connect Middle East and North Africa
LONDON - Thursday, August 23rd 2012 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With IPTV subscriber numbers predicted to undergo a huge ten-fold increase, reaching 1.6 million by 2014*, the Middle East and North Africa is undoubtedly a region rich with promise for those within the TV delivery ecosystem. The untapped territory provides the backdrop for this year’s TV Connect Middle East and North Africa, which is set to focus on IPTV, OTTtv, and multiplatform services, and provides the perfect platform to explore the growth opportunity within TV delivery.
Currently the number of IPTV homes in the Middle East and North Africa is on the rise, and in terms of Pay TV markets as a whole, the region total is predicted to increase to 11 million Pay TV homes by 2014, giving a staggering 15% penetration rate*.
Telecoms operators in the Middle East and North Africa have begun to realise the huge potential and many have concluded that the best strategy for the future is to combine the security of managed IPTV, with the flexibility and adaptability of OTT delivery. For example, Dubai’s incumbent operator and the official event partner, Etisalat already offers an IPTV offering (for high-end fibre customers) and an OTT offering (for lower ARPU users). Etisalat is hosting its Digital Entertainment Network Zone at the conference and exhibition, where the company will be showcasing its TV activities in the region, as well as leading a pre-event OTT focus session on 29 October.
Speaking about the growth opportunity in the UAE, Nick Thomas, Principle Analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, says: “The country is relatively small geographically, with a new infrastructure. The population is young (the majority under 35), tech-savvy and has high levels of disposable income. If premium IP-based paid-content services are to work anywhere, it is here.
“Furthermore, an advantage that potential IPTV operators in the Middle East and North Africa have over their Western counterparts is the opportunity to build the most-up-to-date and effective networks.”
As the TV industry converges and brings closer IPTV and OTTtv providers, CE Manufactures and Linear TV distributers, TV Connect Middle East and North Africa will place a spotlight on all the issues in the managed IPTV ecosystem and the OTTtv space. It will also focus on the importance of content packages, localising content across countries, licensing issues and how the industry can work together to bring a connected and interactive TV experience for the future.
Hisham Arafat, General Manager at INC Emirates Technology, comments on the importance of the event: “TV Connect MENA is an excellent opportunity to introduce the newest technologies in IPTV and OTT to regional telecomm operators. It’s a very good networking event with specialised professionals in the region exploring new ways for increasing IPTV/OTT revenues for the operators.”
The event programme also includes keynote presentations by C-level executives from Etisalat, Al Jazeera, Du, Saudi Telecom Company, Tunisie Telecom, Google, MBC, Q-tel, OSN, Multichoice and Telecom Egypt.
The conference and exhibition will take place at UAE Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa, Dubai, on 30-31 October 2012. To view the full event programme and register for TV Connect Middle East and North Africa, please visit http://mena.tvconnectevent.com/ or call +44 (0) 20 7017 5506. Alternatively, keep up to date with event news on Twitter @tvconnectevent.
Note to Editors *Figures from Informa Telecoms & Media research
About TV Connect Middle East and North Africa
TV Connect Middle East and North Africa is the only major TV event in the region that includes all TV providers in the connected TV delivery ecosystem. It has created a level playing field for creatives and technology developers alike to bring the next generation TV experience and introduce services like pause, rewind, catch up and fast forward in the linear TV package.
About Informa Telecoms & Media
Informa Telecoms and Media (www.informatandm.com) organises 125 global annual events, attended by more than 70,000 executives worldwide. With a focus on quality content, Informa Telecoms and Media delivers a key audience of decision-makers from the mobile, fixed, alternative, wholesale, MVNO, broadband and satellite operator communities. Informa Telecoms and Media is also the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic services to the global telecoms and media markets. Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry, its 90 analysts and researchers produce a range of intelligence services including news and analytical products, in depth market reports and datasets focussed on technology, strategy and content.
For media information please contact Dana Corson at dana.corson@proactive-pr.com or Holly Tyrrell at holly.tyrrell@proactive-pr.com or call on +44 1636 812152
Contacts
for Informa Telecoms & Media
Dana Corson
+44 1636 812152
dana.corson@proactive-pr.com
Holly Tyrrell
+44 1636 812152
holly.tyrrell@proactive-pr.com
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