The number of pay TV homes in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) is reported to increase to 11 million by 2014, according to figures from Informa Telecoms & Media research. As a result, telecoms operators in the MENA are looking to combine the security of managed IPTV, with the flexibility and adaptability of OTT […]
The number of pay TV homes in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) is reported to increase to 11 million by 2014, according to figures from Informa Telecoms & Media research.
As a result, telecoms operators in the MENA are looking to combine the security of managed IPTV, with the flexibility and adaptability of OTT delivery.
A prime example is Dubais incumbent operator Etisalat already offers an IPTV offering (for high-end fibre customers) and an OTT offering (for lower ARPU users).
Speaking specifically about the growth opportunity in the UAE, Nick Thomas, Principle Analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, said: The country is relatively small geographically, with a new infrastructure. The population is young (the majority under 35), tech-savvy and has high levels of disposable income. If premium IP-based paid-content services are to work anywhere, it is here.
Furthermore, an advantage that potential IPTV operators in the Middle East and North Africa have over their Western counterparts is the opportunity to build the most-up-to-date and effective networks.
