Region’s ICT Cluster Supports Arab Media Forum 2008

The convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting industry is radically changing the global media sector, ushering in further advancements for the benefit of the consumer, according to Malek Sultan Al Malek, Executive Director of Dubai Internet City, a member of TECOM Investments.

The region’s leading managed ICT cluster is the IT partner and official sponsor of the Arab Media Forum’s media centre. In its seventh edition, the Arab Media Forum covering the theme “Bridging Arab media through technology” was held on 23-24 April, at The Monarch Hotel in Dubai.

Dubai Internet City has urged decision makers in the media to consider how best to utilize the latest developments in converging ICT trends to adequately channel a seamless flow of information in the public sphere.

Malek Sultan Al Malek said: “Over the last few years, Dubai Internet City has witnessed the steady upsurge of integrated broadband networks. This signaled an obvious shift from the previous trend of independent IT, telecom and broadcasting entities. Such integration has created new and exciting ways to communicate the most up-to-date news, enabling consumers an alternative way to interact with the media.”

Recent market trends in the Arab media, thanks to the convergence of industries, indicate a synergy between mobile telecommunications operators and television broadcasters, utilising new technologies such as Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB-H) on mobile phones. Such a partnership was formed in December 2007 between TECOM Investments and UAE telecom provider du.

Another key convergence trend is the emergence of broadcast-quality, digital television content that is streamed across the internet, better known as IPTV.

Al Malek added: “Our sponsorship of the Arab Media Forum and the media center demonstrates our support to enhancing and connecting Arab media through various means of technology. We hope our presence will offer the media the same measure of dedicated support that they have consistently provided us. The media centre will be managed by our team of IT experts and media consultants. We look forward to contributing to the overall success of the prestigious event.”

Hosting most of the Fortune 500 companies as well as more than 1,000 specialised industry leaders from diverse segments of the information and communication technology sectors, Dubai Internet City has emerged as one of the largest ICT clusters in the world, providing the backbone to the region’s ICT industry while catering to the region’s increasing focus on a knowledge-economy.