Ian Ye, Product Manager-UAE, TP-Link, talks to Anita Joseph about the gaming scenario in the MENA region, the changing gaming technology paradigms, TP Link’s unique market positioning, products and its future plans.
How would you describe the gaming scene in the MENA region today?
The Middle East and Turkey region is the fastest growing gaming landscape today. I’d say Turkey is the biggest market for gaming as far as revenue is concerned, and the UAE is the biggest for mobile gaming. Together, Turkey, Saudi, UAE and Egypt account for a whopping 60-70 per cent of the market share of the whole region. The advent of mobile and laptop gaming with more and more unique features, coupled with the high purchasing power in the region, has ensured that the gaming scene has taken off exponentially, attracting gamers across all demographics and age groups. So yes, there is a lot of potential here, and plenty of untapped opportunities.
What is the single major technological change that has impacted the gaming scene in the region?
I’d say it’s the advent of the Wi-Fi router. Earlier, people used fixed lines and land routers, but today, Wi-Fi routers have changed the gaming landscape altogether. N particular, WiFi 6 (11AX) is bringing in major upgrades to the different networks, all combining to ensure a smooth and lag-free experience for the gamers. In this context, I’d like to point out that the launch of the AX11,000 tri-band gaming router has been a game changer, revolutionizing the entire gaming experience. Vendors in the region are aware of its immense potential and have started switching over from all existing routers.
Tell us something more about the AX11,000 router?
This next-gen router is a game changer-easily one of the best and fastest routers in the market. It delivers Wi-Fi Speeds over 10 Gbps: 4804 Mbps (5 GHz Gaming) + 4804 Mbps (5 GHz) + 1148 Mbps (2.4 GHz). It detects and optimizes gaming streams to ensure that the gaming experience stays immersive, and comes equipped with features such as real-time latency, game duration and network resource allocation, with fine-tuned UI.
Its 2.5 Gbps WAN port and eight Gigabit LAN ports, 2 USB 3.0 in Type A and Type C provide extensive connectivity ensuring that the game is not disrupted. Also, its 1.8 GHz Quad-Core CPU and 3 co-processors ensure your network performance is always at peak run. But perhaps its single largest feature is its capacity for link aggregation, which can connect two ports together for greater speed. For professional gamers this router is a huge boon, ensuring superfast speed and a smooth, uninterrupted experience.
How has your company positioned itself in the MENA Market? How are you reaching out to the gamers here?
TP-Link has always been aware of the market pulse, and therefore, we have adapted, innovated and stayed ahead of competition. Our aim is to help gamers enjoy a comprehensive gaming experience, and therefore, we have made sure our products offer good value for money, are easy to set up and install, and provide cutting edge features.
What are some of your other routers?
The other router that we have is the Archer C5400X for the gaming market, a highly sought-after gaming router. The router has been specifically designed to power the performance demanded from high-end gaming rigs. When gamers play at the highest settings, it’s imperative that they have impressive processing power to avoid any kind of glitch or distraction to a lag of any kind.
The quad-core processor that this router is equipped with means power and that power boosts the gaming performance of the players. With a 1.8 GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU, three co-processors and 1 GB RAM, the Archer C5400X delivers the solid and seamless power required to perfectly execute every service, thread and application to eradicate latency and deliver smooth gameplay. This state-of-the-art device ensures power-packed, seamless gaming experiences for users, making it a preferred choice for serious gamers in the market.
What are your future plans?
TP-Link is working on the 11 AX MESH Router which will support the best of both the AX and the Mesh technology. Once launched, this will be the best in the market and will take the gaming world by storm. We expect it to be out by the first quarter of 2020 and provide a host of never-seen—before features for serious gamers.