The discussion at CABSAT 2012 in association with SES and Eutelsat was chaired and moderated by Virgil Labrador; the editorial and business development director, satellite markets and research. The speakers include Hussein Oteifa, Ghussan Murat, Jawad Abbassi and Claude Rousseau. Hussein Otiefa, senior regional director, Middle East, SES, told the audience that SES is the […]
The discussion at CABSAT 2012 in association with SES and Eutelsat was chaired and moderated by Virgil Labrador; the editorial and business development director, satellite markets and research. The speakers include Hussein Oteifa, Ghussan Murat, Jawad Abbassi and Claude Rousseau.
Hussein Otiefa, senior regional director, Middle East, SES, told the audience that SES is the world leading FSS operator with 50 satellites that cover 99% of the world. Along with HD, the demand in Middle East and North America is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3% by 2020.
He also enlightened the audience about how satellite televisions played an imperative role in the revolution of the Arab Spring. The expected growth in future includes mobile network operators, integrated providers-triple play-evolution, HD, VSAT-application growing demand.
The fallout, however, includes political changes, technological changes and global economic slowdown. The commercial perspective includes benefits and opportunities to enterprises as well as consumers. Enterprises benefits include domestic demand and Greenfields, which is an opportunity to invest in the growth sectors. The consumers, on the other hand, will be provided with an easier and much more affordable broadband access.
Ghussan Murat, head of strategic marketing, Eutelsat, said, There are three drivers of growth in the future: HD TV quality and picture improvement, digital terrestrial television and TV labourization.
He also added that the internet will have a massive impact on satellite on the future, with an increasing demand of satellite connectivity for data networks.
Jawad Abbassi, founder and general manager of Arab Advisors Group, provided the audience with statistics and said that satellite communication penetration levels have increased due to the multi sim card usage in around 19 to 20 countries. He also mentioned that fixed lines are decreasing due to cellular lines and broadband internet. There has been a substantial growth in fiber optic cables.
Smart phones have had a major growth in data usage, with social media becoming a primary channel for interaction. Claude Rousseau, senior analyst at NSR, said that the growth drivers in MENA depends on the supply and demand capacity and mobility.
The discussion enriched the audience by helping them understand the current and future scenario in the MENA region in terms of communication.
By Maria Hussain
The writer is a final year journalism student from Manipal University, Dubai
