2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in the Middle East - Market Reports

With over 345 pages of research covering 15 Middle East countries, BuddeComm's 2007 Telecoms, Mobile & Broadband in the Middle East - Market series contains a comprehensive analysis of the telecoms industry and the companies involved in it.

Research includes -

• Key statistics for all telecom sectors;
• Brief overviews of all telecoms markets;
• Government policies and regulatory issues;
• National telecom networks and infrastructure;
• International infrastructure and submarine cables;
• Brief overviews of all major fixed-line telecom operators.
• Internet and broadband statistics;
• Broadband technologies;
• Convergence and triple play models;
• Satellite and pay TV market trends;
• Digital media developments.
• Mobile statistics and trends;
• Mobile operators;
• Government policies and regulatory issues;
• Licence auctions;
• Mobile technologies - GSM, CDMA, 3G;
• Trends in the prepaid sector;
• Mobile satellite services;
• Mobile data services - SMS, MMS, WAP, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA 1xRTT, 1x EV-DO.

This research is divided into the following volumes:

• Volume 1 Middle Eastern - Convergence, Broadband and Internet
• Volume 2 Middle Eastern Mobile Communications and Mobile Data
• Volume 3 Middle Eastern - Telecoms Statistics and Market Overview

Across the Middle East region, telecoms infrastructures are expanding and modernising. Most fixed-line incumbents remain majority government-owned but greater liberalisation and competition are impacting the market in a positive manner. Identifying the critical role of telecommunications in economic development, governments are making significant investments. More technologically diverse services are becoming available to businesses and consumers alike and private companies are taking the lead in the provision of services such as Internet access and mobile telephony.

Internet usage is on the rise across the region. Penetration is highest in Israel, UAE and the smaller countries of the Gulf region and lowest in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Infrastructure issues, government policy, poverty and illiteracy are limiting factors.

Broadband services, chiefly DSL, are available in every country in the region. Other broadband access technologies are available in various Middle Eastern countries, including cable modems, wireless broadband (WiFi, WiMAX and satellite Internet) but are considerably less significant in terms of user uptake.

Israel is the most advanced country in terms of broadband penetration. Israel is also a hot house of development for key broadband technologies.

The mobile market continues to boom, with the Gulf countries having some of the highest penetration rates in the world. 3G, HSPA and mobile TV services are growing.

Operators in the wealthier countries in the region are investing in IP-based infrastructure to replace traditional telephone systems, with Next Generation Network (NGN) development particularly aimed at corporate users. The Gulf countries particularly have sophisticated infrastructure. However issues are arising in more deregulated countries such as Israel and Bahrain as to the wholesale prices they can charge. Operators are threatening not to invest unless they see more substantial returns than are likely in a competitive environment.

Egypt has emerged as the largest Arab Internet market thanks to the successful implementation of a free Internet strategy. Since 2002, Internet users in the Cairo region have not been charged for dial-up Internet connections. All they pay is the cost of a phone call - less than 25 cents an hour. The sector is highly competitive with more than 200 data and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Israel has a very dynamic telecommunications market with one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world and one of the highest household broadband penetration rates. It is also experiencing convergence, with both the telecommunications and media markets showing early signs of being redefined. There is a very flourishing venture-capital funded ICT start-up sector with all manner of leading-edge software and equipment companies. All of the major international players including Microsoft, Cisco, Lucent, Alcatel, and Nokia have bought Israeli start-ups and their technology.