Last updated: 15 Aug 2008 Update History
Report Status: Archived
Report Pages: 156
Analyst: Stephen McNamara
Publication Overview
This annual report offers a wealth of information on trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband in the Gulf countries of
· Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
· Facts, figures and statistics;
· Industry and regulatory issues;
· Infrastructure;
· Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU;
· Internet, VoIP, IPTV;
· Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
· Broadband (DSL, cable TV, wireless);
· Convergence and Digital Media.
Researcher: Tine Lewis
Current publication date:- August 2008 (7th Edition)
Next publication date:- July 2007
Executive Summary
BuddeComm’s Middle East Annual Publication, 2008 Middle East - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in The Gulf Countries , profiles the wealthy countries of the GCC, developing Iraq and Yemen and the very regulated market of Iran.
The GCC countries have benefited to differing degrees, depending on their reserves, from the very high oil and gas prices. Even countries with less oil such as
The markets of
Key highlights:
· The GCC countries are investing in NGN infrastructure, with FttH becoming a reality, particularly in the smaller and more urban countries. Broadband penetration levels do not appear high but improve once larger household sizes are accounted for. Household broadband penetration in the UAE is at least 40%.
· Zain of Kuwait and Etisalat of the UAE have continued their expansion abroad. Zain now operates in 20 countries and Etisalat in 16, in the
· Qtel of Qatar is also expanding rapidly abroad, also with interests in 16 countries (most of them acquired in 2007), although as yet with a smaller subscriber total than Etisalat or Zain. STC of Saudi Arabia has aspirations to join the club, with new interests in
· The remarkable regional DTH satellite TV market continues unabated, with around 300 FTA channels plus pay TV operators. Despite many channels being launched for political rather than commercial reasons, the competition is generating some very interesting players – news channels Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya and more entertainment-oriented channels from Rotana and others.
· The launch of services by MTN Irancell has transformed the Iranian mobile market, causing annual growth of over 100%, hugely greater availability of services and introduced a degree of transparency to the market.
· All countries have licensed at least two mobile operators. A third licence has been granted for
·
· Of the many new licences auctioned in the region in the past few years, the second Qatari mobile licence was the first to go to a European operator. Vodafone Qatar expects to launch services early in 2009.
· Since the introduction of competition to the UAE mobile market, penetration rates have leapt to nearly 170%. Growth rates in all countries tend to reflect the degree of competition in the market rather than the penetration levels.
Mobile penetration and annual change in the Gulf countries – 2008
Year |
Penetration |
Annual change |
|
123% |
27% |
|
37% |
111% |
|
44% |
27% |
|
84% |
10% |
|
109% |
33% |
|
122% |
20% |
|
116% |
43% |
UAE |
169% |
38% |
|
18% |
38% |
(Source: BuddeComm)
For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:
· Government policies affecting the telecoms industry in all countries, including incumbent share
· Telecoms operators – acquisitions, competition and new market entrants – the powerful international players Zain, Etisalat, Qtel and perhaps STC in near future;
· Internet and broadband development and government policies accelerating or impeding the potential for growth;
· The fast growing mobile markets of the region, still with much potential particularly in the repressed market of
· Mobile data and wireless broadband developments as 3G subscribers increase and HSDPA and WiMAX services proliferate.
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
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