Mideast annual ICT spending to surpass USD240bn mark by 2018

Mobilk - According to American information technology research and advisory firm, Gartner, total Middle East IT and telecoms spend is set to grow 24 percent from $195.6 billion last year to $243 billion by 2018, with device spending set to jump 30 per cent from $30 billion to $39 billion over the same five-year period.

The surge in IT and device spending represents huge potential for increased automation opportunities in nearly all fields of industry, as businesses seek to leverage a rise in mobility, smart government, Big Data and the Internet of Things - the interconnection of embedded computing-like devices, systems and services across a variety of protocols, domains and applications that go beyond standard machine-to-machine communications (M2M). 

According to a recent report issued by Frost & Sullivan, half of all global businesses find M2M, mobile device management and mobile software applications to be highly-effective technologies. The number of international businesses deploying M2M technologies is set to grow 42 percent by 2016. 

Held under the theme Smart Innovation in the Digital Age, the Digital Strategies Forum will help organizations better understand how to leverage social media, mobile technology and emerging customer touch points in this new digital frontier. The one-day Forum will take place on Oct.15 at Gitex Technology Week 2014 which will be held on Oct. 12-16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme "Re-Imagining our Future".

Eric Claudel, President for Middle East & Africa at Gemalto, a world leader in security and trusted partner for NFC, said: "We live in a more and more connected world, with smart devices all around us and more and more digital services available. Smart Cities would be nothing without the trust we place in the technology around us and this is clearly what Gemalto brings: security and convenience in the digital world. We are dedicated to providing banks, mobile operators, businesses and governments with the security solutions that protect users identity, data as well as privacy and meet strict standards so they can offer enhanced and innovative new services to their customers, subscribers, employees and citizens."

Gemalto, serving as the Strategic Sponsor for the Digital Strategies Forum, will further enhance its industry-leading position with Nadia Gonzalez, Vice President of Mobile Marketing, Gemalto, presenting a keynote talk on how brands can "Boost Mobile Marketing Revenue in the App World." She will show how brands can combine operator assets with mobile media to create lasting user engagement.

"Mobile device communication and business strategies in the Middle East will be at the forefront of the Digital Strategies Forum at GITEX Technology Week 2014," said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the organizer of Gitex Technology Week. 

"Attendees can learn innovative practices for smart online engagement from up-and-coming technology pioneers and leading international technology brands through interactive discussions and in-depth case studies. Based on feedback from the Gitex community, we will examine how to manage multi-channel communication and how to quantify digital activity and measure ROI."

Featuring senior representatives from the hospitality, telecommunications, e-commerce, retail, and fast-moving consumer goods industry sectors, and advertising agencies, the Digital Strategies Forum will tackle key topics such as digital CSR, data analytics, digital strategy, one-to-one marketing and the role of people in the digital sphere.

The Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts the free online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, will present Digital CSR! How Digital Services can Change the Community; digital advertising company VivaKi MENA will present The Role of Humans in the Digital World, and Middle East comparison website Souqalmal.com will present Dont Get Caught Sitting on the Digital Time Bomb: How the Data Explosion Add Value to Business.