In a research report, RNCOS, a New Delhi-based research firm, said that it expected the UAE telecom market to grow by ten percent by 2012, bringing the total value of the market to $10.8bn.
Valued at $7.8bn in 2008, RNCOS said that intensified competition from second telecoms company du had been the main catalyst behind the surge in growth.
“While there has been no official comment on the potential for a third license being issued in the future, we believe that once du has profitably established itself, additional competition will be introduced, either in the form of a third universal license, or as separate individual licenses for fixed, broadband and ISP,” the report said.
Operators in recent months have been looking at new products to boost their revenues from mobile and internet services. These include services such as 3G, mobile TV and IPTV across the seven emirates.
“The UAE has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the GCC region. [It] has been very progressive in its policies towards the adoption and development of ICT technology,” the report said.
The UAE government views advanced ICT infrastructure as a way of attracting foreign investment and diversifying the economy away from oil based resources, the report added.
RNCOS said that it expected the emirates’ broadband subscribers to jump by 35 percent between the years of 2009 and 2012. It forecast that broadband subscribers would reach 1.8 million by next year, with the penetration rate to reach 66 percent, up from 31 percent in 2009.
It added that a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) entrant was unlikely within the next few years due to the required regulatory framework not being in place.(C) Arabian Business
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