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Broadband and digital TV on the rise in Middle East
Editor ©RapidTVNews | 22-08-2010
A new survey by Research and Markets has pointed to broadband gaining traction across the entire Middle East area from Turkey to Iran.
The report ‘Middle Eastern Digital Media, Broadband and Internet Market Report’ highlights the fact that in general across the region, Internet and broadband penetration rates remain low with access speeds are often relatively slow and tariffs relatively high compared with other regions in the world.
However, the region is said to be making a strong push towards higher broadband penetration as a relatively young population driving growth as Internet use becomes the norm.
Research and Markets believes that liberalisation and increased competition are producing a greater variety of services and mediums. It adds that the onset of fibre to the home across the region will likely revolutionise the broadband market in the most advanced countries. Both Israel and the UAE should have nationwide fibre networks in the next two years.
There will also likely be increasing adoption of digital TV services with increasing local digital content—including entertainment, educational programming, news and sports—produced by the DTH TV sector. At least 60-70% of homes across the Middle East have access to multi-channel TV, much of it free to air DTH satellite. Around 70% of the 400+ channels are privately owned.
