Between 2002 And 2006, the Rural Satellite VSAT Market in Middle East and Africa Experienced Exponential Growth, With the Number of Installed Terminals Increasing From 7,000 To 60,000.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c55050) announces the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report Rural Satellite VSAT Markets - Middle East and Africa to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Middle East and Africa VSAT Markets provides an overview of these markets along with a complete analysis of key drivers and restraints. It examines the development potential of the VSAT technology and includes a special focus on regulatory issues pertaining to VSAT networks and terminals. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: enterprise, carrier, and consumer/small office home office (SOHO).

The following technology is covered in this research:

Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT): VSAT refers to the size of the ground station terminal, typically less than 2m. In this study, hub Earth stations usually ranging in size from 4 to 6m are not considered VSATs. Also, only IP-based terminal are considered. TV dishes are not included, but one-way broadband VSATs are.

Market Overview

Growth of VSAT Market in the Middle East and Africa Hinges on Sustained Regulatory Change

The telecommunications market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been experiencing steady growth in recent years due to the prevailing low levels of penetration and the gradual shift toward creating an information economy. Favourable regulatory policies have done much to aid the liberalisation of this industry in the MEA region, which is already considered one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world. Satellite-based communications have always been at the forefront of telecom solutions, and with the industry getting a strong boost, are set to witness significant growth. "Governments in MEA increasingly perceive Internet access as a priority area and have focussed on negotiating license exemption for VSAT services, especially for public sectors such as education and health," remarks the analyst of this research service. "Development agencies working in the region have been able to obtain special permission to install VSATs in some countries."

For example, the World Bank's schools networking program has already installed VSAT equipment for schools in Uganda and Senegal. The International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) African telemedicine project, the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria, and the SchoolNet project of The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) have all received clearance to do the same in several African countries. Most development agencies have identified information and communication technology (ICT) expansion as a major area of focus in MEA and an integral part of the North-to-South aid relationship. As the availability of satellite services becomes more widely known in countries that restrict the number of license holders or limit the use of private VSAT, pressure from local Internet service providers (ISPs) and potential customers is likely to help drive further regulatory change, and in turn, promote the growth of the VSAT market.

VSAT Becomes a Key Part of Driving ICT Development Efforts in MEA

Between 2002 and 2006, the VSAT market in MEA experienced exponential growth, with the number of installed terminals increasing from 7,000 to 60,000. The consumer market is emerging and holds strong growth potential despite persistent challenges such as shortage of funds and regulatory and licensing issues. Several high-profile projects such as NEPAD's eSchools, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and the reconstruction efforts in Iraq are expected to drive the growth of the VSAT market in the MEA region, with telephone carriers as the major end users.

"VSAT technology has successfully positioned itself as a key element enabling the integration of ICT in developing and under-developed economies that lack terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure," says the analyst. "In many emerging countries, satellite is currently the most cost-effective solution for providing connectivity and international access to rural areas; in fact, it is the preferred option worldwide for the deployment of rural public telephony networks. "VSAT networks' flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of applications and their ability to be quickly deployed in remote and rural areas have made them the most attractive choice for most development agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Content Outline:

1. Executive Summary

-1. Introduction

--1. Market Overview and Methodology

-2. Key Findings

--1. Market Demand

--2. Market Share

--3. Industry Challenges

-3. Market Definitions

--1. Definition of Terms

2. VSAT: The Stepping Stone to Development

-1. Introduction

--1. VSAT as a Successful Technology

-2. Growth Applications

--1. Rural Telephony

--2. Distance Education

--3. E-government

--4. Telemedicine

--5. E-business

--6. The Role of VSATs

3. Regulations and Licensing

-1. Introduction

--1. Overview

--2. Definitions

-2. Market Landscape

--1. Treaties

-2. Regulatory Authorities 

--3. Voice Traffic

--4. Data Traffic

--5. Licensing Highlights

-3. Regional and Country Discussions

-1. Overview and Trends

4. Market Dynamics

-1. Market Overview

--1. Introduction

--2. Market Engineering Measurements

-2. Market Drivers and Restraints

--1. Market Drivers

--a. National and International ICT Initiatives

--b. Increasing Demand for Satellite GSM Backhaul

--c. Political Instability

--d. Universal Service Obligations

--e. Decreasing Equipment and Service Costs

--2. Market Restraints

--a. High Cost of Satellite Bandwidth

--b. High Licensing Fees and Customs Duties 

--c. Lack of Supporting Infrastructure

--d. Availability of Funds

--e. Expansion of Fiber Networks

--f. Political Environment

--g. Low Literacy Rates

-3. Total Market

--1. End Users

--2. Major Participants

--3. Products

--4. Alternate Technologies

--5. Africa (Sub-Saharan and Northern Africa)

--6. Middle East

--7. Space Segment

5. Forecasts for Middle East and Africa

-1. Forecast Overview

--1. Forecasts Methodology

-2. Middle East and Africa Forecasts

--1. Unit Shipment Forecasts

--2. Country Trends

--3. Conclusions

6. Market Entry Strategies

-1. Case Study

--1. Overview

--2. Recommendations

7. Appendices 

-1. Decision Support Databases

--1. List of Industry Participants

--2. Funding Sources - Telecommunications Environment - Local Companies

List of Figures

Chapter 2

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Ratio of Cost Savings Due to Internet Use (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Chapter 3

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: VSAT License Fees for Selected Countries (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Case Study of VSAT Network License for Selected Countries (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Chapter 4

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Market Drivers Ranked in Order of Impact (Middle East and Africa), 2007-2012

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Market Restraints Ranked in Order of Impact (Middle East and Africa), 2007-2012

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Products Offered by Major Participants (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Chapter 5

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Unit Shipment Forecasts (Middle East and Africa), 2002-2012

Chapter 6

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Product Characteristics of iDirect versus Hughes (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Chapter 7

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Database of Projects (Middle East and Africa), 2006

Rural Satellite VSAT Market: Status of VSAT and Telecommunication Regulations (Middle East and Africa), 2006

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c55050