Huawei, a leading global information and communication technology (ICT) solutions provider, will showcase its portfolio of railway solutions at Middle East Rail 2012, from tomorrow to Thursday.

Drawing on its experience leading many ground-breaking rail projects worldwide, Huawei will set out the need for security and reliability to be at the heart of the region's rail communication systems.

The Mena region is currently the world's fastest growing markets for rail projects, with an increase in metros, trams and monorail projects expected to lead to the rail market almost doubling in size over the next decade.

While the region is undergoing more than $250 billion of planned investment in the railways sector, the GCC is leading the way with expected rail project spend of around $245bn, according to the MEED Railway Report 2011.

A significant focus for Huawei Enterprise in the next few years is to address the railway industry's need for security and reliability to be at the forefront of this major investment.

"Huawei has a wealth of experience to share, having worked on a significant number of rail projects around the world and equipping more than 8,000km of railway tracks with our GSM-R solution, ensuring smooth, efficient and safe transport," Huawei Enterprise Middle East president Dr Liu Qi said.

"Development in the Middle East region is spurring the need for greater connectivity. Better public transport helps big cities work smarter, with metro systems improving mobility."

"Rail freight brings cities closer, giving more efficient access to goods," he stated.

"Providing commuters with seamless connectivity on-board trains and creating high-speed links between airports and city centres makes the travel experience more enjoyable for passengers and improves profitability for operators."

"Intelligent video surveillance enables operators to detect any intrusion on the rail tracks, identify an abandoned bag or monitor numbers waiting for a train."

Huawei's track record in the telecommunications industry, providing communications networks for 45 out of 50 of the world's top telecom operators including Etisalat in the UAE, as well as for Saudi Telecom makes Huawei the first choice telecommunications vendor in the Middle East, said Dr Liu Qi.

It also puts the company in a strong position to develop communications for the region's modern high speed railways.

"Intelligent transport networks are vital both for quality of life and for business success in the Middle East, as this region proves to the world that it has the connections and infrastructure it takes to be a destination for businesses coming to the region and to provide the best conditions for home-grown businesses," Dr Liu Qi said.

"We look forward to rolling up our sleeves with the Middle East rail industry at the event, and mapping out the transport networks that will define the region's future."

Huawei recorded regional contract sales in 2011 of $3.22bn, an increase of 20 per cent compared with 2010.

While consolidating its leading position within the telecom market, Huawei is also growing rapidly in the enterprise market; specifically in the transportation, government, banking and finance, oil and gas, power and utilities sectors.-TradeArabia News Service