Report Summary
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 Bahrain or the emirate of Dubai have benefited from the wealth coming into the region. All countries realise the need to use the bonanza to upgrade their infrastructure. They are also keen to increase the 'knowledge component' of their economies as a bulwark against a potentially less profitable future. All of these factors have had a strong bearing on their telecoms industries. In addition, all the GCC countries have liberalised their markets to a greater or lesser degree, resulting in much greater competition, particularly in the mobile sector. This trend towards greater competition is still continuing, extending into the fixed-line and Internet sectors.
The markets of Iraq, Yemen and Iran are much less developed but are all quite exciting. In Iraq, the mobile market has been one of the great successes of the post-war period, growing from nothing to 44% penetration in four years. This is partly a result of very little fixed-line infrastructure. Three quite equal operators were competing in the market but after the award of longer-term licences there are now three much less equally sized players, which will possibly result in a less competitive and more expensive market. The lack of development in Iran is government induced rather than a result of economic factors. Since the launch of a second mobile operator in September 2006, this sector at least has been transformed with annual growth of over 100%. The broadband and Internet sectors are very different due to government restrictions on competition, speeds and services. The government is intending to introduce a level of private ownership into the incumbent operator and it will be interesting to see what effect this will have. Yemen, with GDP per capita of only around US$1,000 is nevertheless also experiencing healthy growth in its mobile market.
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 Middle East, Africa and Asia. Etisalat claimed to be the fastest growing mobile operator in the world in 2008, with a proportional mobile subscriber base of 24.2 million, an annual increase of 106.41%.
*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 Kuwait, South Africa and Turkey.
*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 Kuwait, while in Bahrain an auction for a third licence in imminent.
*Saudi Arabia's third mobile operator, Zain, is about to launch operations into an already very competitive market. Saudi Arabia will see major players STC, Etisalat and Zain go head to head.
*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.
Report Outline
1. Bahrain
1.1 Key statistics
1.2 Telecommunications market
1.2.1 Overview of Bahrain's telecom market
1.3 Regulatory environment
1.3.1 Background
1.3.2 Regulatory authority
1.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Bahrain
1.3.4 Interconnect
1.3.5 Access
1.3.6 Number portability
1.3.7 Privatisation
1.4 Fixed network operators in Bahrain
1.4.1 Bahrain telecommunications company (Batelco)
1.4.2 Alternative operators
1.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
1.5.1 National telecom network
1.5.2 International infrastructure
1.6 Wholesaling
1.6.1 Overview
1.7 Broadband and Internet market
1.7.1 Internet overview
1.7.2 Broadband overview
1.7.3 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
1.7.4 Wireless broadband
1.8 Convergence
1.8.1 Overview of media convergence
1.8.2 VoIP
1.8.3 Triple play
1.9 Digital media
1.9.1 Satellite TV
1.9.2 E-Government
1.9.3 Internet economy
1.10 Mobile communications
1.10.1 Overview of Bahrain's mobile market
1.10.2 Regulatory issues
1.10.3 Mobile technologies
1.10.4 Major mobile operators
1.10.5 Mobile voice services
1.10.6 Mobile data services
1.10.7 Mobile content
2. Iran
2.1 Key statistics
2.2 Telecommunications market
2.2.1 Overview of Iran's telecom market
2.3 Regulatory environment
2.3.1 Background
2.3.2 The Fourth Five-Year Development plan (2005 -2010)
2.3.3 Regulatory authority
2.4 Fixed network operator in Iran
2.4.1 Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI)
2.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
2.5.1 National telecom network
2.5.2 International infrastructure
2.6 Broadband and Internet market
2.6.1 Internet overview
2.6.2 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
2.7 Convergence
2.7.1 Overview of media convergence
2.7.2 VoIP
2.7.3 Overview of broadcasting market
2.7.4 Satellite TV
2.8 Mobile communications
2.8.1 Overview of Iran's mobile market
2.8.2 Regulatory issues
2.8.3 Major mobile operators
2.8.4 Mobile voice services
2.8.5 Mobile data services
3. Iraq
3.1 Key statistics
3.2 Telecommunications market
3.2.1 Overview of Iraq's telecom market
3.3 Regulatory environment
3.3.1 Background
3.3.2 Regulatory authority
3.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Iraq
3.4 Fixed network operators in Iraq
3.4.1 Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC)
3.4.2 Wireless Local Loop operators
3.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
3.5.1 National telephone network
3.5.2 International infrastructure
3.6 Broadband and Internet market
3.6.1 Internet overview
3.6.2 Wireless broadband
3.7 Convergence
3.7.1 Overview of media convergence
3.7.2 Overview of broadcasting market
3.8 Mobile communications
3.8.1 Overview of Iraq's mobile market
3.8.2 Regulatory issues
3.8.3 Mobile technologies
3.8.4 Major mobile operators
3.8.5 Mobile voice services
3.8.6 Mobile data services
3.8.7 Mobile content and applications
4. Kuwait
4.1 Key statistics
4.2 Telecommunications market
4.2.1 Overview of Kuwait's telecom market
4.3 Regulatory environment
4.3.1 Background
4.3.2 Regulatory authority
4.3.3 Privatisation of Mobile Telecommunications Co
4.4 Fixed network operator in Kuwait
4.4.1 Ministry of Communications
4.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
4.5.1 National telecom network
4.5.2 International infrastructure
4.6 Broadband and Internet market
4.6.1 Internet overview
4.6.2 ISP market
4.6.3 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
4.6.4 Wireless broadband
4.7 Convergence
4.7.1 Overview of media convergence
4.7.2 VoIP
4.8 Digital media
4.8.1 Overview of broadcasting market
4.8.2 Internet economy
4.9 Mobile communications
4.9.1 Overview of Kuwait's mobile market
4.9.2 Regulatory issues
4.9.3 Mobile technologies
4.9.4 Major mobile operators
4.9.5 Mobile voice services
4.9.6 Mobile data services
4.9.7 Mobile content and applications
5. Oman
5.1 Key statistics
5.2 Telecommunications market
5.2.1 Overview of Oman's telecom market
5.3 Regulatory environment
5.3.1 Background
5.3.2 Regulatory authority
5.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Oman
5.3.4 Privatisation
5.3.5 Interconnect
5.3.6 Number Portability
5.3.7 VoIP
5.4 Fixed network operator in Oman
5.4.1 Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel)
5.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
5.5.1 National telecom network
5.5.2 International infrastructure
5.6 Broadband and Internet market
5.6.1 Internet overview
5.6.2 Leased lines
5.6.3 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
5.6.4 Wireless broadband
5.7 Digital media
5.7.1 Overview
5.7.2 Overview of broadcasting market
5.8 Mobile communications
5.8.1 Overview of Oman's mobile market
5.8.2 Regulatory issues
5.8.3 Mobile technologies
5.8.4 Major mobile operators
5.8.5 Mobile voice services
5.8.6 Mobile data services
6. Qatar
6.1 Key statistics
6.2 Telecommunications market
6.2.1 Overview of Qatar's telecom market
6.3 Regulatory environment
6.3.1 Background
6.3.2 Regulatory authority
6.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Qatar
6.3.4 Privatisation
6.4 Fixed network operator in Qatar
6.4.1 Qtel
6.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
6.5.1 National telecom network
6.5.2 International infrastructure
6.6 Broadband and Internet market
6.6.1 Internet overview
6.6.2 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
6.6.3 Wireless broadband
6.7 Convergence
6.7.1 Overview of media convergence
6.7.2 Triple play
6.7.3 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
6.8 Digital media
6.8.1 Overview of broadcasting market
6.8.2 Al Jazeera
6.8.3 IPTV
6.8.4 E-Government
6.9 Mobile communications
6.9.1 Overview of Qatar's mobile market
6.9.2 Regulatory issues
6.9.3 Mobile technologies
6.9.4 Major mobile operator
6.9.5 Mobile voice services
6.9.6 Mobile data services
6.9.7 Mobile content and applications
7. Saudi Arabia
7.1 Key statistics
7.2 Telecommunications market
7.2.1 Overview of Saudi Arabia's telecom market
7.3 Regulatory environment
7.3.1 Background
7.3.2 Regulatory authority
7.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Saudi Arabia
7.3.4 Privatisation
7.3.5 Interconnect and access
7.3.6 Number Portability
7.3.7 Universal service
7.4 Fixed network operators in Saudi Arabia
7.4.1 Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
7.4.2 ITC
7.4.3 Bayanat Al-Oula
7.4.4 Saudi Oger/Oger Telecom
7.4.5 Hits Telecom
7.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
7.5.1 National telecom network
7.5.2 International infrastructure
7.6 Broadband and Internet market
7.6.1 Internet overview
7.6.2 ISP market
7.6.3 Broadband market overview
7.6.4 DSL
7.6.5 Broadband powerline (BPL)
7.6.6 Wireless broadband
7.7 Digital media
7.7.1 Overview of broadcasting market
7.7.2 E-Commerce
7.7.3 E-Learning
7.8 Mobile communications
7.8.1 Overview of Saudi Arabia's mobile market
7.8.2 Regulatory issues
7.8.3 Mobile technologies
7.8.4 Major mobile operators
7.8.5 Mobile voice services
7.8.6 Mobile data services
7.8.7 Mobile content and applications
8. United Arab Emirates
8.1 Key statistics
8.2 Telecommunications market
8.2.1 Overview of UAE's telecom market
8.2.2 Market analysis -2008
8.3 Regulatory environment
8.3.1 Background
8.3.2 Regulatory authority
8.3.3 Liberalisation
8.3.4 VoIP prohibited
8.4 Telecom operators in UAE
8.4.1 Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat)
8.4.2 Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company/du
8.4.3 TECOM Investments/Dubai Holding/Emirates International Telecommunications (EIT)
8.4.4 UAE investment companies owning telcos outside the UAE
8.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
8.5.1 National telecom networks
8.5.2 Infrastructure developments
8.5.3 International infrastructure
8.6 Broadband and Internet market
8.6.1 Internet overview
8.6.2 Internet access locations
8.6.3 ISP market
8.6.4 Broadband market overview
8.6.5 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
8.6.6 Cable modems
8.6.7 Wireless broadband
8.7 Convergence
8.7.1 Overview of media convergence
8.7.2 Triple play
8.7.3 VoIP
8.8 Digital media
8.8.1 Overview of broadcasting market
8.8.2 Dubai Media City (DMC)
8.8.3 Arab Media Group
8.8.4 Digital TV
8.8.5 Internet economy
8.9 Mobile communications
8.9.1 Overview of UAE's mobile market
8.9.2 Regulatory issues
8.9.3 Mobile technologies
8.9.4 Major mobile operators
8.9.5 Mobile voice services
8.9.6 Mobile data services
9. Yemen
9.1 Key statistics
9.2 Telecommunications market
9.2.1 Overview of Yemen's telecom market
9.3 Regulatory environment
9.3.1 Regulatory authority
9.3.2 Telecom sector liberalisation in Yemen
9.3.3 Privatisation
9.4 Fixed network operators in Yemen
9.4.1 TeleYemen/Yemen International Telecommunication Company
9.4.2 Public Telecommunications Corporation (PTC)
9.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
9.5.1 National telecom network
9.5.2 International infrastructure
9.6 Broadband and Internet market
9.6.1 Internet overview
9.6.2 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
9.7 Mobile communications
9.7.1 Overview of Yemen's mobile market
9.7.2 Regulatory issues
9.7.3 Major mobile operators
9.7.4 Mobile voice services
9.7.5 Mobile data services
10. Glossary of Abbreviations
