Telecom and finance leaders meet in Dubai to debate new investment perspective for global telecoms

March 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Regional leadership from telecom operators and financial institutions are meeting in Dubai to debate the shift in investment perspective for telecoms globally at the 6th annual TMT Finance & Investment Middle East 2012 Conference http://www.tmtfinance.com/me on May 2-3.

Telecoms is entering a transitional period and restructuring of global portfolios, investing in new technologies and the realignment of business models are central to the debate at this year’s conference, which is sponsored by Saudi Telecom Group. Michael Dunning, Head of TMT and Corporates, Fitch Ratings, will make a keynote speech titled: “Entering a new dynamic - How the risk perspective for telecoms will shift over the next five year cycle across global markets.”

Dunning said: “As if strong macro headwinds, intense competition, regulatory scrutiny and maturing markets were not enough, the telecoms sector faces the seemingly unstoppable separation of service applications from traditional linear connectivity. This threatens to re-write business models the world over. Without further consolidation it would seem to us at Fitch that business risk increases for market participants, particularly as the sector enters a new investment phase."

Telecom operators with assets across the Middle East, Africa, Asia will also speak at the conference, including chief executives from Saudi Telecom (STC), Etisalat, MTN, Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Batelco. Financial institutions speaking include Goldman Sachs, Emirates Investments Authority (EIA), Morgan Stanley, Standard Bank, Citi, Macquarie and Altimo, which owns telecoms assets across 20 countries through Vimpelcom, MegaFon and Turkcell.

Key discussion sessions include: Global Telecom Leadership Round Table- Strategies for the leading the next wave; The M&A Panel - What’s next for mergers and acquisitions globally?; Telecom CFO Round Table - Creating New Paths to Operational Efficiency for Telcos; The Financing and Investment Panel – How is telecom investment and financing changing? Delivering Content and Applications; Regulating Telecoms to Stimulate Growth; Meeting Broadband Demand and Consolidating Networks.

Now in its sixth year, the TMT Finance & Investment Middle East Conference and Awards Dinner takes place at the Mina A’ Salam, Madinat Jumeirah Hotel and Resort in Dubai from May 2-3, 2012.  The conference is designed to facilitate debate and new partnership opportunities through a series of keynote speeches, leadership panels and co-ordinated networking time for attending delegates.

The event is supported by Saudi Telecom (STC) as Main Event Sponsor with IHS, Clifford Chance, Booz & Company, Fitch Ratings, AT Kearney, Tasc Towers, Ernst & Young, Capital MSL, TMTFinance.com and Thomson Reuters.    

For full programme details visit http://www.tmtfinance.com/middleeast/programme

Register to attend at http://www.tmtfinance.com/middleeast