Swiss structured cabling specialist, Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) said it has registered a 16 per cent growth in the Middle East and Africa in the first half driven by region-wide infrastructure investment.

On its recent performance, Jean Pierre Labry, R&M managing director (MEA) said the growth is being driven by increased infrastructure investment, notably in Public Networks division (broadband, telecom) where the firm benefited from initiatives to deploy fiber or FTTx solutions in key markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar.

R&M has also completed a number of projects in private networks division (building, companies, clinics, data processing centers) across several industry verticals including healthcare, oil and gas, data centers, hotels, education, and finance, Labry pointed out.

On the global scale, the Middle East and Africa region emerged as the most successful for the Swiss structured cabling specialist.

'Despite the still uncertain economic climate, R&M recorded an impressive 16 per cent growth rate for the first half of the year and was able to extend its regional market leadership in the passive cabling domain,' he noted.

Africa, Labry said, was particularly successful, having achieved in the first half of the year its entire sales figures of 2009, enabling the company to extend its regional market leadership in the passive cabling domain.

According to him, R&M is expecting a significant increase in Public Network orders in the coming days.

'Looking forward, we expect the growth trend to be maintained as international network operators, telecoms companies and data processing centers continue to invest in new infrastructure,' he added.

At the product level, Labry said the demand for the recently launched Cat. 6A connection module, which sets new standards for high performance copper cabling is particularly strong.

'The Single Circuit Management System that simplifies the management of large volumes of fiber optics in broadband providers’ distributors is also about to be launched in the Middle East market.'

On the economic outlook, Labry said, “It remains uncertain, with large projects being planned very cautiously. However, we have every reason to be optimistic that the strong growth performance we demonstrated will continue.'

'It is a testament to our overall strategy of developing forward looking products that anticipate the needs of the market as well as investing in the region for the region,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service