The third generation networks will drive growth in UAE's ICT industry, RNCOS said on Monday in its report on “Middle East ICT Market Analysis.” Given a large section of the UAE population exhibit tech-savvy traits, the number of 3G subscribers is expected to grow threefold by 2013, the report noted, fueled by differentiated and more customized value added services and migration from traditional voice-only mobiles to more sophisticated 3G mobile technology. “The UAE is a highly lucrative market for 3G mobile services. It is characterized by over penetrated mobile market and vast affluent population that seems to be more tech-savvy,” it said. The country enjoys 100 percent coverage for 3G technology. Mobile phone users in the UAE exhibit sophistication in their demand for mobile devices. They are willing to know about all the possible options in 3G services both in terms of sales and after-sales support, the report noted. The emerging 3G market presents tremendous growth potential for the content and application providers as 3G helps mobile users to access various WAP-enabled websites on mobile phones. Affordable 3G handsets, better understanding of the technology, and expansion of 3G networks will attract subscribers to adopt 3G technology. Internet subscription in the UAE grew at an annual rate of over 20 percent from 1.16 million in 2008 to nearly 1.4 million subscribers in 2009. The increase was attributed to rising consumer needs to get Internet connectivity and the consistent fall down of Internet subscription rates. Besides, the government is encouraging the development of “smart cities.”
