The Middle East has some of the highest concentrations of satellite dishes anywhere in the world. But now Sharjah emirate, which is alongside that of Dubai on the Arabian Gulf, has banned satellite dishes that are fixed to balconies and terraces.

Sultan Al Muallah, Director-General of the Sharjah Municipality, says residents can instead subscribe to cable or telco-supplied TV services, and issued a 48-hour deadline for flat and apartment-dwellers. Those who fail to remove their dishes face a fine. The same rules also apply to hanging laundry and the use of balconies to store bicycles and such.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite, Policy, Regulation