The Middle East and Africa—the fastest growing broadband markets in the world—are to host their first ever major IPTV event in November, when the IPTV World Forum Middle East and Africa is staged at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel in Dubai, UAE.

The two developing regions, alongside Europe, already accommodate 48 per cent of the world’s IPTV market and significant growth is already planned as competition to introduce new services intensifies.

The IPTV World Series of conferences and exhibition, now recognised as the leading platform for IPTV news, developments and discussion, has already organised a wide range of speakers in a programme covering content suppliers and broadcasters, operators, content providers and systems integrators. The associated industry exhibition already has around 40 companies taking part.

“The Middle East and Africa has a real thirst for new technology and exciting new applications and services,” said Ian Johnson, Managing Director of organisers Junction Ltd.

“IPTV adoption is a primary example and Dubai is a natural choice to give the industry the platform it needs to discuss and develop its ideas further”.

Speakers for the conference, which will feature on the strategic and technical issues of IPTV deployment in the region, include:

• Mickael Ghossein, CEO of Jordan Telecom
• Tariq Habib, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Etisalat, UAE
• Khaled Taha, Director of Technology at Al Jazeera Network
• Sarat Lallah, CEO of Mauritius Telecom
• Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, President and CEO of Showtime Arabia, UAE.
• Khireddine Slimane, General Manager, Algérie Telecom

Running parallel to the conference is a free exhibition previewing the latest technology from some of the industries leading companies, including Harris, TANDBERG Television and Verimatrix.

The early booking discount for the conference ends on the 29th September, delegates can register online at www.iptv-mea.com.