Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Tunisia have all adopted the second-generation terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) system.

State broadcaster Qatar Media Corporation selected Rohde & Schwarz in August 2013 to upgrade its terrestrial TV network to support DVB-T2 technology. Qatar-based systems integrator Media Group International is overseeing the US$14 million project, which is due to be completed later this year, according to Gulf Times.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also currently undergoing nationwide migration to DVB-T2 based digital terrestrial television (DTT) networks, while Kuwait has also committed to install the second generation standard. Iraq has already implemented its DVB-T2-based system in parts of the country, while Bahrain, Oman and Yemen are assessing the technology.

Samart, which is part-owned by Malaysia's Axiata Group, reportedly aims to sell 1.5 million phones in Thailand in 2014 and also targeting Myanmar and South Africa as new export markets. The company's latest DVB-T2 smartphones and tablet, on show at Thailand Mobile Expo 2014, range from $110 to $263.