The number of mobile subscriptions around the world has exceeded 6 billion, or nearly 86% of the planet’s population. The share of Middle-East countries is approximately 360 million or 6%, The number of internet users will be 2.3 billion persons, representing a the third of the global population. These developments are the reason why telecommunication companies, internet sites, applications and operation systems developers, mobile phones manufacturers, telecom solution providers, regulators, legislators and investors believe that the ICT sector is about to witness fusions between mobile communication, internet functions and data exchange functions that would thus open doors wide to digital services at all levels, whether governmental, financial, health, education, media, or others. In this framework, investors as well as financial institutions are striving to benefit from opportunities in the coming period which will witness unprecedented business models as well as the transformation of the role of companies and institutions, as well as operational modes.

Under the patronage of His Excellency M. Nicolas Sehnaoui, Minister of Telecommunications in Lebanon, the 11th session of the Arab Telecom and Internet Forum, was held at Habtoor Grand Hotel-Hilton, Beirut on February 2nd & 3rd, 2012, providing a timely platform to discuss ongoing transformations in the ICT sector at both the Arab and international levels, and relations between the ICT sector and other sectors, namely, banking, education, transportation, trade, health and media. The forum also provided an opportunity for a reading of the key indicators of accelerated developments and changes in the IT business, as well as to other relevant issues.

This event was organized by: Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group in cooperation with the Ministry of Telecommunication, ESCWA, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and ArabSat. Coinciding with the Executive Bureau of the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers meetings.