Trade secrets

Statistics showed that CABSAT enjoyed a 10% increase in visitor numbers and 30% more exhibitor space than last year. In this wrap-up, we take a look at some of the other factors that also indicated how the show was a reflection of the rapid growth in the Middle East broadcast industry.

CABSAT has now become the proverbial yardstick for manufacturers and systems integrators to gauge the growth rate of the Middle East's broadcast, production and satellite industry.

Although over the last four years, we have seen this show grow bigger, it is only now that companies are beginning to see the event as a launch pad for several new technologies just like they would at IBC and NAB, and yet, it also has the distinct advantage of being small enough for new players to announce their entry and make themselves visible to visitors.

This time, we also saw the heads of international entities take time off from their busy schedule to fly down to Dubai for the show. These are clear indicators of the boom that the Middle East broadcast and production industry is currently enjoying.

One important announcement at CABSAT was the launch of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), a satellite services company owned by the Abu Dhabi government's strategic investment and development arm, Mubadala Development Company.

Yahsat, which is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, claims that it will be the first to bring hybrid satellite technologies to the region and judging by its aggressive investment in satellites and the portfolio of services it is seeking to provide including voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions, it is clear that the company is looking to compete with the likes of Arabsat and Nilesat and perhaps, at a later period, with international companies as well.

Already, Yahsat has partnered with a consortium of EADS Astrium, Thales and Alenia Space to build a hybrid satellite communications system.

The first satellite Yahsat 1A is currently being built and is slated for launch in the second half of 2010 by Arianespace while its 1B satellite is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2011 by International Launch Services (ILS).

At CABSAT, the company showcased its satellite capabilities, applications and coverage areas for potential business partners seeking a complete range of satellite services.

"By combining deep regional understanding with our partnership approach, we hope to bring great operational flexibility and custom-designed satellite services to a wide range of customers in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-West Asia," Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat, said at the show.

Increasingly, companies have also begun to use the show to launch their products. Last year, Omneon gave CABSAT visitors a sneak preview of its Media Deck before it was officially launched at NAB. This year, Eurostar used CABSAT to announce the global debut of its Green Box, the world's first recyclable satellite receiver.

This product is an FTA receiver and is RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) compliant. The Green Box includes trickle charge time keeping and an auto switch-off function that ensures low power consumption. All of the big players including Sony, Panasonic, Hitachi, JVC and Thomson Grassvalley along with local players like Advanced Media which demonstrated a camera from Silicon Imaging that is said to rival the Red camera.

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