Leading players from the regional telecom industry, will converge in Abu Dhabi tomorrow (May 16) for a major summit that aims to address the latest industry issues and examine global trends.

Mecom 2011, the largest ICT exhibition and conference in UAE capital, will spotlight the leading international trends affecting next generation ICT solutions, said event organisers, IIR Middle East.

On top of the agenda will be issues related to retaining and gaining market share, as ‘open’ markets’ policy clears way for increased competition through the region, it added.

The 'Abu Dhabi Telecoms CEO Summit,' a leading event for the telecommunications sector in the Middle East, opens on Monday on the sidelines of Mecom.

The summit will cover popular topics such as new paradigm for revenue generation, mobile internet vs fixed internet, driving growth in emerging markets, investment strategy, trends and forecasts. 

Now in its fifth year, Mecom is being held under the patronage of Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, who will be delivering the keynote address at the CEO Summit.

Other top speakers include Mohamed Al Ghanim, Director General of the TRA; Nasser bin Abood, Acting CEO of Etisalat and Osman Sultan, CEO at du.

“Abu Dhabi is the ideal location because it has now unveiled its vision for 2030, which has strategic focus on the ICT industry. Abu Dhabi’s increasing importance as a commercial centre is reflected in Mecom’s growth as the event has attracted a number of new exhibitors and sponsors.'

'The wider selection of products and services on display has attracted 22 per cent increase in visitor/delegate registrations. ” commented Binu Pillai, exhibition director of IIR Middle East.

Elsewhere on the programme, the Telecoms Technology Summit presents an unrivaled opportunity where operator CxOs, regulators and decision makers gather to network and to do business, the Telecoms Technology Summit will consider the changing face of the industry, mobile TV and broadband issues.

Two further ICT-dedicated forums for the government/public sector and oil and gas industry will offer a more streamlined approach.

“ICT for Government Forum will bring together over 100 “C” level delegates from various government departments, service providers and an expert line up of high level speakers to discuss the key issues in Government ICT and service delivery today,” said Pillai.

Meanwhile the ICT for Oil & Gas Forum is a strategic one-day event for senior ICT executives in the oil, gas and industrial sector concerned about emerging trends, technology and opportunities brought by ICT.

'More than most other sectors, the oil and gas industry requires reliable information and communication systems for mission-critical operations.'

'The forum will provide Middle East’s oilfield operators, explorers, developers and upstream processors with leading-edge briefings on the latest trends and innovations in the sector,' Pillai added.

According to him, the ICT will have a major impact on the future of the oil & gas sector and industry leaders need to equip themselves with in-depth knowledge on the latest solutions and best practices to maximise the success of their operations.

In addition the highly popular 3rd International Cloud Computing Summit will address pressing issues and concerns including: security, infrastructure and regulations specific to the region.

Mecom will see more than 100 exhibiting companies showcasing their next generation communications technology and solutions for government, healthcare, hospitality, banking & finance, oil & gas, real estate, retail, manufacturing, logistics and media sectors.-TradeArabia News Service