Counties covered:  Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates & Yemen

This annual report provides an insight into the developing Broadband and Internet markets of the Middle East.  Topics detailed in the report include the following:

-  Triple play models
-  VoIP services and regulatory aspects
-  Digital media developments
-  Regional Internet and broadband market developments and analysis
-  xDSL, cable modems, Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), WiFi
-  Growth in regional broadband penetration and availability (trends, growth patterns, prospects)
-  Censorship of the Internet in Middle East countries

Executive Summary

Key Highlights

Internet usage has been growing at an enormous rate over the past few years, particularly in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen. Having already grown its Internet market by close to 3,000% in the 2000-2005 period, Iran is expected to remain the fastest growing market in the region in 2006.
Although broadband penetration is still extremely low in the region, by 2006 growth rates were generally on a par with the average growth rate of most developed regions. ADSL is currently the most prevalent form of broadband access. In the UAE, broadband usage is expected to surpass the number of dial-up Internet users by end-2007. In Bahrain, Batelco announced in early 2006 that it aimed to offer broadband to every household in the country by 2008. Although broadband penetration is very low in Jordan, growth has been rapid, causing a steady decline in dial-up usage. Broadband penetration is highest in Israel.

Triple play services have been launched in Israel, and Jordan is beginning to see moves towards convergence, particularly in VoIP. In the Bahrain market several new competitors aim to deliver broadband Internet plus voice services via VoIP. Convergence developments are starting to pick up in Kuwait, with satellite TV operators providing broadband Internet services and bundling them with TV subscriptions. However, VoIP services are prohibited.

Table of Contents

Section 1    Overview Middle Eastern Convergence, Broadband & Internet Markets

1.1    Convergence
    1.1.1  Introduction
    1.1.2  Triple play developing slowly in Israel
    1.1.3  And even slower in most Arab countries
    1.1.4  Digital media
    1.1.5  The Internet economy stirs
1.2    Broadband market
1.3    Internet market

Section 2    BAHRAIN

2.1    Internet market
    2.1.1  Overview
2.2    Broadband market
    2.2.1  Overview
    2.2.2  ADSL
    2.2.3  Wireless broadband
2.3    Convergence
    2.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    2.3.2  VoIP
    2.3.3  Broadcasting market overview

Section 3    IRAN

3.1    Internet market
    3.1.1  Overview
3.2    Broadband market
    3.2.1  ADSL
    3.2.2  Wireless Broadband
3.3    Convergence
    3.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    3.3.2  VoIP
    3.3.3  Broadcasting market overview
    3.3.4  Satellite TV

Section 4    IRAQ

4.1    Internet market
    4.1.1  Overview
4.2    Broadband market
    4.2.1  Wireless broadband
4.3    Convergence
    4.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    4.3.2  Broadcasting market overview

Section 5    ISRAEL

5.1    Internet market
    5.1.1  Overview
    5.1.2  Israel's ISP market
5.2    Broadband market
    5.2.1  Cable modems
    5.2.2  Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
    5.2.3  WiFi
    5.2.4  WiMAX
5.3    Convergence
    5.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    5.3.2  Triple play models
    5.3.3  VoIP
    5.3.4  Broadcasting market overview
    5.3.5  Cable TV
    5.3.6  Digital cable TV
    5.3.7  Satellite TV
    5.3.8  IPTV

Section 6    JORDAN

6.1    Internet market
    6.1.1  Overview
    6.1.2  ISP market
6.2    Broadband market
    6.2.1  Overview
    6.2.2  Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
    6.2.3  Wireless broadband
6.3    Convergence
    6.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    6.3.2  VoIP
    6.3.3  Broadcasting market overview

Section 7    KUWAIT

7.1    Internet market
    7.1.1  Overview
    7.1.2  ISP market
7.2    Broadband market
    7.2.1  ADSL
    7.2.2  Wireless broadband
7.3    Convergence
    7.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    7.3.2  Broadcasting market overview
    7.3.3  Satellite-based digital pay TV developments

Section 8    LEBANON

8.1    Internet market
    8.1.1  Overview
    8.1.2  Data service providers
    8.1.3  ISP market
8.2    Broadband market
    8.2.1  Overview
    8.2.2  Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
    8.2.3  Cable modems
    8.2.4  Wireless broadband
8.3    Convergence
    8.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    8.3.2  Triple play
    8.3.3  VoIP
    8.3.4  Broadcasting market overview

Section 9    OMAN

9.1    Internet market
    9.1.1  Overview
    9.1.2  Leased lines
9.2    Broadband market
    9.2.1  Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
    9.2.2  Wireless broadband
9.3    Convergence
    9.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    9.3.2  Broadcasting market overview

Section 10    QATAR

10.1    Internet market
    10.1.1  Overview
10.2    Broadband market
    10.2.1  ADSL broadband
    10.2.2  Wireless Broadband
10.3    Convergence
    10.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    10.3.2  IPTV
    10.3.3  Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
    10.3.4  Broadcasting market overview
    10.3.5  Al Jazeera

Section 11    SAUDI ARABIA

11.1    Internet market
    11.1.1  Overview
    11.1.2  ISP market
11.2    Broadband market
    11.2.1  Overview
    11.2.2  DSL
    11.2.3  Wireless broadband
11.3    Convergence
    11.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    11.3.2  Broadcasting market overview

Section 12    SYRIA

12.1    Internet market
    12.1.1  Overview
    12.1.2  ISP market
12.2    Broadband market
    12.2.1  Overview
12.3    Convergence
    12.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    12.3.2  Broadcasting market overview

Section 13    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

13.1    Internet market
    13.1.1  Overview
    13.1.2  Internet access locations
    13.1.3  ISP market
13.2    Broadband market
    13.2.1  Overview
    13.2.2  Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
    13.2.3  Cable modems
    13.2.4  Wireless broadband
13.3    Convergence
    13.3.1  Overview of media convergence
    13.3.2  VoIP
    13.3.3  Broadcasting market overview
    13.3.4  Digital TV
    13.3.5  Internet economy

Section 14    YEMEN

14.1    Internet market
    14.1.1  Overview
14.2    Broadband market
    14.2.1  Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband

Section 15    Glossary of Abbreviations

Tables

Table 1  Broadband subscribers in selected Middle Eastern countries 2005
Table 2  Middle East Internet usage by country 2005
Table 3  Internet user and penetration estimates in Bahrain 1995 - 2005
Table 4  Internet subscribers in Bahrain 1999 - 2005
Table 5  Internet host computers 1995 - 2004
Table 6  Broadband statistics 2005
Table 7  Internet user and penetration estimates in Iran 1995 - 2005
Table 8  Internet host computers in Iran 1994 - 2004
Table 9  Internet user estimates in Iraq 2001 - 2005
Table 10  Internet host computers in Iraq 2000 - 2004
Table 11  Broadband subscribers, annual change & household penetration in Israel 2001 - 2005
Table 12  Broadband network, subscribers, annual change & market share in Israel 2005
Table 13  Internet users and penetration estimates 1997 - 2004
Table 14  Internet host computers 1994 - 2004
Table 15  ISP market shares 2005
Table 16  Cable modem subscribers in Israel 2003 - 2005
Table 17  Broadcasting market statistical overview 2005
Table 18  YES satellite TV subscriber growth 2002 - 2005
Table 19  Internet user and penetration estimates in Jordan 1995 - 2005
Table 20  Internet subscribers in Jordan 1999 - 2004
Table 21  Internet host computers 1995 - 2004
Table 22  Broadband statistics in Jordan March 2005
Table 23  DSL subscribers 2001 - 2004
Table 24  TV market receivers and households 1999 - 2004
Table 25  Internet user and penetration estimates in Kuwait 1995 - 2005
Table 26  Internet subscribers in Kuwait 2003 - 2005
Table 27  Internet host computers 1994 - 2004
Table 28  Broadband DSL subscribers 2001 - 2005
Table 29  TV market TVs and satellites2000 - 2004
Table 30  Internet user and penetration estimates in Lebanon 1995 - 2004
Table 31  Internet subscribers in Lebanon 2001 - 2004
Table 32  Internet host computers 1995 - 2004
Table 33  Cable modem Internet subscribers 2002 - 2004
Table 34  TV equipped households 1996 - 2004
Table 35  Internet user and penetration estimates in Oman 1998 - 2005
Table 36  Internet subscribers in Oman 2000 - 2006
Table 37  Internet host computers 1997 - 2004
Table 38  Internet user and penetration estimates in Qatar 1995 - 2004
Table 39  Internet subscribers 1999 - 2004
Table 40  Internet host computers 1996 - 2004
Table 41  ADSL subscribers 2003 2006
Table 42  TV and cable TV market 2000 - 2004
Table 43  Internet user and penetration estimates in Saudi Arabia 1995 - 2004
Table 44  Internet subscribers in Saudi Arabia 2000 - 2004
Table 45  Internet host computers 1994 - 2004
Table 46  DSL subscribers 2002 - 2005
Table 47  TV receivers and TV equipped households 2000 - 2004
Table 48  Internet user and penetration estimates in Syria 1999 - 2004
Table 49  Internet user and penetration estimates in UAE 1995 - 2006
Table 50  Internet subscribers in UAE 1995 - 2006
Table 51  Dial-up Internet subscribers 2001 - 2005
Table 52  Internet host computers 1995 - 2004
Table 53  Broadband subscribers 2000 - 2005
Table 54  TV and cable TV market 2000 - 2004
Table 55  Internet user and penetration in Yemen 1996 - 2005
Table 56  Internet subscribers in Yemen 2004 - 2005
Table 57  Internet host computers 1996 - 2004