The UAE’s Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) telecom market is set to grow 20 per cent annually with smart devices at the leading edge, said a top official.

Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), was addressing industry leaders at Mecom, the region’s leading event for next generation ICT solutions.

The fourth edition of Mecom, which opened today (May 17), will run until May 19 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

“The UAE telecoms market has grown from Dh30 billion to Dh60 billion since 2005,” said Al Ghanim.

“The market will continue to grow by 20 per cent annually, which will be driven (in part) by sales of smart phones and devices which will double this year,” he added.

Al Ghanim was clearly making reference to the new Android smart phone software, which is due to launch in the UAE later this year, a statement said.

He went on to say that it would be these types of smart application that would drive the market and he saw the TRA’s role to encourage investment and to provide regulation only where necessary.

“We want the market to thrive and we will only create regulation where there is dominance. We want to develop a flexible competitive framework, which encourages the development of new products. However, when new packages are launched, we will ensure that complete transparency is in place to avoid misleading claims,” added Al Ghanim.

According to US-based CommScope, which is featuring its next-generation Systimax 360 Solutions platform at Mecom, Abu Dhabi is the ideal location for the event, particularly now that it had unveiled its vision for 2030 that bodes well for the ICT industry, especially infrastructure.

Khalil Mamlouk, managing director of Andrew Wireless Solutions, a business unit of CommScope, said: “Convergence is driving and shaping the regional markets right now. Exhibiting here at Mecom, we have a market-leading proposition that takes us from wired to wireless, in other words we now have the combined expertise to cover the complete ICT spectrum, from installing physical cabling to enabling wireless applications.” 

Jim Meltz, group director of IIR Middle East, the organiser of Mecom, said: “Mecom is the only show for wired and wireless communications in the UAE. It is also the only one that serves the whole communications value chain and unique in that it has a dedicated focus on enterprise communication.”

Mecom 2010 has attracted more than 100 companies who are demonstrating their next generation communications technology and solutions. – TradeArabia News Service