Kuwait - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Kuwait continues 5G development in 2019

Kuwait has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world and market saturation. To capitalise on this; the operators are building extensive LTE networks, developing 5G and introducing mobile broadband content and services.

The existence of this substantial mobile infrastructure places Kuwait in good stead to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the evolution to 5G. In 2019 we are seeing 5G developments accelerate in Kuwait with the operators beginning to formulate offerings around 5G service packages and devices.

While Kuwait’s mobile sector shows considerable progress; the country’s fixed broadband penetration is one of the lowest in the region. The Kuwaiti government is however focusing on building fixed broadband networks and ultimately this sector offers a potential future growth opportunity for both the operators and government. Improvements to the fixed broadband infrastructure will assist to grow markets such as e-commerce, along with smart infrastructure development, start-ups and M2M.

This BuddeComm report provides extensive information on Kuwait’s telecoms market and provides key industry statistics as well as information and insights relating to fixed and mobile infrastructure, subscribers, regulations and major players.

Key developments:

The three major operators of Zain Kuwait, VIVA and Ooredoo are all offering LTE services as well as exploring 5G opportunities.
There is a high ownership of smart phones in Kuwait.
Improvements to fibre-broadband infrastructure are underway.

Companies covered in this report include:

Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC) / Zain, Ooredoo Kuwait, Kuwait Telecom Company (KTC) / Viva.

Table of Contents

Key statistics
Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis
Competitive environment

Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Regulatory authority
Privatisation
Infrastructure sharing
Interconnect

Fixed network operators

Ministry of Communications

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Fibre networks
International infrastructure (satellite, submarine)

Submarine cable networks
Satellite communication

Smart infrastructure

IoT
Smart grids

Fixed broadband Market

Introduction and statistical overview

Historic overview
Market overview
Broadband statistics

Digital economy

e-Commerce
Start-ups
e-Banking/e-Payments
e-Health

Digital Media

Video-streaming
Music-streaming
VoIP

Mobile Market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics
Mobile broadband

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
GSM, 3G
Other infrastructure developments

Mobile regulatory issues

Third mobile operator
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming tariff reduction
Spectrum refarming for LTE
Spectrum for 5G
Mobile tower management

Major mobile operators

Zain Kuwait
Ooredoo Kuwait
Viva

Mobile content and applications

m-banking (payments/loans)
OTT messaging services

Mobile handsets

Appendix – historic data
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Kuwait – 2019
Table 2 – Kuwait – GDP and inflation – 2014 - 2019
Table 3 – Kuwait - fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2009 – 2019
Table 4 – Kuwait – subscribers to broadband technologies – 2015; 2017
Table 5 – Kuwait - Internet users and penetration – 2009 – 2018
Table 6 – Kuwait - fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2009 – 2024
Table 7 – Kuwait - mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Table 8 – Kuwait - mobile operators’ market share – 2005 – 2018
Table 9 – Kuwait - mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – 2018
Table 10 - Kuwait - mobile broadband subscriptions – 2014 – 2024
Table 11 – Kuwait – population coverage of mobile technologies – 2016 - 2018
Table 12 - Zain Group subscribers and revenue – 2005 – 1H 2019
Table 13 – Zain Kuwait revenue, net profit, ARPU and subscribers – 2005 – 2018
Table 14 – Zain Kuwait – prepaid share – 2005 – 2018
Table 15 – Ooredoo Kuwait financial data, subscribers, ARPU – 2016; Q1 2019
Table 16 - Viva revenue, net profit, EBITDA, and subscribers – 2012 – Q1 2019
Table 17 – Historic – Kuwait - fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 – 2008
Table 18 – Historic – Kuwait - mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1995 – 2004
Table 19 – Historic - Kuwait - Internet users and penetration – 1995 – 2008
Table 20 – Historic - Kuwait - fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2006 - 2008

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Kuwait’s major mobile operators – market share – 2018
Chart 2 - Kuwait’s fixed broadband penetration set to grow

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO)

Related Reports

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Licence Information

Focus Report Profile

Technologies

Broadband Fixed
Broadcasting
Companies (Major Players)
Internet
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Regulations & Government Policies
Strategies & Analyses (Industry & Markets)
Telecoms Infrastructure

Number of pages 64

Status Current

Last updated 14 Aug 2019
Update History

Analyst: Kylie Wansink

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