International telecoms gathering to include trade fair, leaders summit and two-day conference

Middle East Communications (MECOM), the international telecommunications event comprising a trade fair, summit and the MECOM Congress, will kick off at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from April 22 to April 25, 2007.

MECOM, held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi & Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is set to become a calendar event for the telecommunications industry, and is expected to play a pivotal role in furthering regional telecom advancement.

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Chairman, stated, "Communications systems and services play a vital role in the running of every modern enterprise and in the daily lives of every nation's citizens. I am delighted His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given his support and patronage to this event as I believe MECOM will become a major regional showcase for the telecommunications industry."

Abu Dhabi, with its excellent infrastructure and status as ideal destination for market leaders, will provide the perfect location for this high profile communications exhibition and conference. Thuraya Satellite, based in Abu Dhabi, is one of the world's leading satellite based mobile communications companies and provides services to more than 120 countries. The coming years will see a lot of activity in the UAE's domestic communications market. The recently launched second telecommunications operator The Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company has already announced a range of innovative customer offerings that are gaining considerable media and consumer interest.

Simon Horgan, Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre stated, "The UAE's pivotal role in the regional communications sector combined with its vibrant domestic market makes it the ideal location for the MECOM conference. We are delighted that ADNEC is the venue for this event and we will work closely with the organisers to ensure the success of this extremely important event, and work towards establishing MECOM as a premier event for the global communications industry.

"MECOM will be three events rolled in to one major telecom showcase. Leading providers of communications products and services will take part in a four day trade fair that will be promoted to visitors across the whole of the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Sub-Continent and the Caspian and Black Sea States. Heads of regional regulatory authorities and telecoms operators will be invited to attend the prestigious MECOM Summit where vital industry issues such as Regulations, Standards, Pricing, Cooperation and Security will be discussed. The MECOM Congress will be a top-level two day conference covering all the latest developments, issues, products and opportunities in the communications sector, such as Wireless, Satellite, 3G, Internet & Broadband, VOIP and Next Generation Networks.

The UAE boasts one of the world's highest per capita levels of mobile phone users at over 90 percent of the population and internet subscribers at over 32 percent. Etisalat, currently the sixth largest company in the Middle East, is one of the most active regional Telecoms providers with stakes in many other regional fixed line and mobile communications organisations such as Sudatel (Sudan), Zantel (Tanzania), Q-Tel (Qatar), Etihad Etisalat (Saudi Arabia), and Atlantique Telecom (Western Africa).-ends- 
 

For more information, please contact:

MECOM Forums
Po Box 122142
Office 214
Pyramid Centre, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates

Tel: + 9714 3356533
Fax:+9714 3351109
Email: mecomexpo@eim.ae