Our first trip to this Middle East communications was long overdue, as the region is forecasted to be one of the hot markets for the next several years.

But while this was my first time in Dubai, the show followed the same basic script that I have seen in the past few years at other shows such as NAB, CommunicAsia and IBC. While most satellite executives and analysts maintain that the sector is somewhat recession proof or at least recession resistant, shows are not. Foot traffic at many shows is down slightly, according to exhibitors.

But on a positive note, the attendance declines are coming from the “tourists” attendees and not the customers, which bodes well for the Middle East region and the satellite communications market as a whole. The demand for bandwidth remains strong, and if the industry can provide the capacity, the revenues will follow.