2008 Middle Eastern - Mobile Communications and Mobile Data Market

Publication Date	September 2008
Publisher	BuddeComm
Product Type	Report
Pages	134
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	BUD00304

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Summary

This Middle East market report covers the mobile telephony and mobile data markets in each of the following countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Yemen. Across most countries of the Middle East, including even some of the most highly penetrated, growth rates are surprisingly high. This is mostly due to a recent increase in competition - a second or third operator has entered the market or a new investor has bought a share of an existing operator - causing a subsequent drop in tariffs or improvement in services. Multi-SIM ownership is common as subscribers aim to maximise special offers and different deals. The region's mobile markets include:

Iran

Iran started proceeding in August 2008 to auction a third mobile licence. Mobile subscriber numbers in Iran grew hugely after the launch of second operator MTN and there remains room for more growth but MTN's path to launch was torturous, a fact that may discourage some bidders. Russian operators may be interested in the licence.

Iraq

With little fixed-line infrastructure, Iraqis have taken to mobile use with great enthusiasm, creating penetration levels fast approaching 50% in mid-2008, having grown from zero in only four years. The previously three roughly equal operators have been reduced to two (one of them twice as large as the other) since the award of new 15-year licences but so far the reduction in competition has had no bad effect on growth, which has accelerated considerably in 2008, probably due to the improving security situation.

Israel

The Israeli government is moving to create a wholesale market in all sectors of communications, which will lead to change in the mobile sector after a long period of stability. While Israel already has very high levels of mobile penetration, its three roughly equal operators plus one much smaller operator, MIRS, have seen little change in their market shares for some years. The government is expected to issue MVNO licences. In addition, WiMAX frequencies are to be auctioned with MIRS (wholly owned by Motorola) a likely winner. Meanwhile, 3G subscriber levels made up around 25% of total subscribers in early 2008 and revenue from mobile data constituted around 15% of total revenue.

Qatar

Qatar is currently the only market in the region with a single operator but this is about to change in early 2009 when second-licence winner Vodafone Qatar is due to launch. Qatar's mobile penetration was already well above 120% in early 2008, leaving little room for Vodafone. Vodafone has experience in the region with operations in Egypt and Turkey but will be the first non-Middle East based operator in the GCC countries.

Saudi Arabia

Since the launch of second operator, Mobily, mobile subscribers have grown rapidly, leading to penetration levels similar to those of the smaller GCC states, at well over 100%, despite Saudi Arabia's much higher total population. With third operator Zain's launch in August 2008 the market is about to become even more competitive, particularly as it is the only market where three of the region's major operators - Etisalat of the UAE, Zain of Kuwait and STC on its home turf - go head to head.

UAE

Mobile penetration levels in the UAE are quite spectacular, claimed as being over 175% in March 2008. Growth has been astonishing since the launch of second operator du. 3G subscribers make up over 25% of the total.

For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the mobile telephony and mobile data markets in the Middle East, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:

Mobile operators - acquisitions, mergers, and competition;
Government policies and regulatory issues;
Past and planned licence auctions;
Technological developments in the mobile telephony and mobile data markets.

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Content

1. The Middle Easts Mobile Market
- 1.1 Market overview
  - 1.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 1.2 Mobile market forecasts
  - 1.2.1 Egypt
  - 1.2.2 Iran
  - 1.2.3 Iraq
  - 1.2.4 Jordan
  - 1.2.5 Kuwait
  - 1.2.6 Lebanon
  - 1.2.7 Syria
  - 1.2.8 Yemen
- 1.3 Regulatory issues
  - 1.3.1 Background
  - 1.3.2 Telecom sector liberalisation
  - 1.3.3 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
  - 1.3.4 Number portability
- 1.4 Major mobile operators in the Middle East
  - 1.4.1 Overview
- 1.5 Mobile voice services
  - 1.5.1 Prepaid
  - 1.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 1.6 Mobile data services
  - 1.6.1 Overview
  - 1.6.2 3G
  - 1.6.3 HSPA
  - 1.6.4 Mobile TV
2. Bahrain
- 2.1 Overview of Bahrains mobile market
  - 2.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 2.2 Regulatory issues
  - 2.2.1 Second mobile licence
  - 2.2.2 Third mobile licence
  - 2.2.3 Prepaid subscriber registration
- 2.3 Mobile technologies
  - 2.3.1 Analogue
  - 2.3.2 Digital
  - 2.3.3 Third generation mobile
- 2.4 Major mobile operators
  - 2.4.1 Batelc
  - 2.4.2 Zain Bahrain (formerly MTC Vodafone)
- 2.5 Mobile voice services
  - 2.5.1 Prepaid
- 2.6 Mobile data services
  - 2.6.1 Enhanced data for GSM evolution (EDGE)
  - 2.6.2 High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
  - 2.6.3 BlackBerry
- 2.7 Mobile content
  - 2.7.1 Batelc
  - 2.7.2 Zain Bahrain
3. Egypt
- 3.1 Overview of Egypts mobile market
  - 3.1.1 Telecom Egypts mobile deal
  - 3.1.2 Third mobile licence
  - 3.1.3 Mobile subscriber statistics
- 3.2 Regulatory issues
  - 3.2.1 Tariff structure
  - 3.2.2 International gateways
  - 3.2.3 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- 3.3 Mobile technologies
  - 3.3.1 3G
- 3.4 Major mobile operators
  - 3.4.1 MobiNil (Egyptian Company for Mobile Services)
  - 3.4.2 Vodafone Egypt
  - 3.4.3 Etisalat Misr
- 3.5 Mobile voice services
  - 3.5.1 Prepaid services
  - 3.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 3.6 Mobile data services
  - 3.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 3.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 3.6.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 3.6.4 GPRS and EDGE
  - 3.6.5 Mobile TV
- 3.7 Mobile content and applications
  - 3.7.1 Mobile banking
4. Iran
- 4.1 Overview of Irans mobile market
  - 4.1.1 Local handset manufacture
  - 4.1.2 Mobile statistics
- 4.2 Regulatory issues
  - 4.2.1 Second GSM licence
- 4.3 Major mobile operators
  - 4.3.1 MCI
  - 4.3.2 MTN Irancell
  - 4.3.3 Taliya/Rafsanjan Industrial Complex Islamic Cooperative Company (RIC)
  - 4.3.4 Mobile Telecommunications Company of Isfahan (MTCE)
  - 4.3.5 Telecommunications Kish Company (TKC)
- 4.4 Mobile voice services
  - 4.4.1 Prepaid
  - 4.4.2 Satellite mobile
- 4.5 Mobile data services
  - 4.5.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 4.5.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 4.5.3 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
5. Iraq
- 5.1 Overview of Iraqs mobile market
  - 5.1.1 Mobile statistics
  - 5.1.2 Average revenue per user (ARPU)
- 5.2 Regulatory issues
  - 5.2.1 Temporary mobile licences
  - 5.2.2 Permanent licences
- 5.3 Mobile technologies
- 5.4 Major mobile operators
  - 5.4.1 Asiacell Communications
  - 5.4.2 Zain Iraq (formerly MTC Atheer)
  - 5.4.3 Korek Telecom
  - 5.4.4 Orascom Telecom Iraq Corporation/Iraqna
  - 5.4.5 Sanatel
- 5.5 Mobile voice services
  - 5.5.1 Prepaid
  - 5.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 5.6 Mobile data services
- 5.7 Mobile content and applications
6. Israel
- 6.1 Overview of Israels mobile market
  - 6.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 6.2 Regulatory issues
  - 6.2.1 Award of 3G mobile licences
  - 6.2.2 Connection charges
  - 6.2.3 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
  - 6.2.4 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- 6.3 Mobile technologies
  - 6.3.1 Analogue
  - 6.3.2 Digital
  - 6.3.3 integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN)
  - 6.3.4 3G
  - 6.3.5 High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA)
- 6.4 Major mobile operators
  - 6.4.1 Pelephone Communications Ltd
  - 6.4.2 Cellcom
  - 6.4.3 Partner Communications Company Ltd (Orange)
  - 6.4.4 MIRS Communications Ltd
- 6.5 Mobile voice services
  - 6.5.1 Prepaid
- 6.6 Mobile data services
  - 6.6.1 i-mode
  - 6.6.2 Push-to-talk (PTT)
- 6.7 Mobile content and applications
  - 6.7.1 Mobile TV
  - 6.7.2 External content providers
7. Jordan
- 7.1 Overview of Jordans mobile market
  - 7.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 7.2 Regulatory issues
  - 7.2.1 Third GSM licence
  - 7.2.2 MVNOs
- 7.3 Mobile technologies
  - 7.3.1 GSM
  - 7.3.2 Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN)
- 7.4 Major mobile operators
  - 7.4.1 Jordan Mobile Telephone Services/Zain Jordan
  - 7.4.2 Orange
  - 7.4.3 XPress Telecommunications
  - 7.4.4 Umniah
- 7.5 Mobile voice services
  - 7.5.1 Prepaid
  - 7.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 7.6 Mobile data services
  - 7.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 7.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 7.6.3 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 7.6.4 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 7.6.5 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 7.6.6 BlackBerry
- 7.7 Mobile content and applications
8. Kuwait
- 8.1 Overview of Kuwaits mobile market
  - 8.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 8.2 Regulatory issues
  - 8.2.1 Third mobile operator
- 8.3 Mobile technologies
  - 8.3.1 Analogue
  - 8.3.2 Digital
  - 8.3.3 Third generation mobile
- 8.4 Major mobile operators
  - 8.4.1 Mobile Telecommunications C(Zain)
  - 8.4.2 National Mobile Telecommunication C(NMT)/Wataniya Telecom
- 8.5 Mobile voice services
  - 8.5.1 Prepaid
  - 8.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 8.6 Mobile data services
  - 8.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 8.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 8.6.3 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 8.6.4 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 8.6.5 Blackberry
- 8.7 Mobile content and applications
  - 8.7.1 Mobile TV
9. Lebanon
- 9.1 Overview of Lebanons mobile market
  - 9.1.1 High tariffs
  - 9.1.2 Mobile statistics
- 9.2 Regulatory issues
  - 9.2.1 Overview
  - 9.2.2 Lebanons current mobile licences
  - 9.2.3 Background original BOT contracts
- 9.3 Major mobile operators
  - 9.3.1 Zain
  - 9.3.2 Alfa Telecom
- 9.4 Mobile voice services
  - 9.4.1 Prepaid
  - 9.4.2 Satellite mobile
- 9.5 Mobile data services
  - 9.5.1 Mobiles at war
  - 9.5.2 PowerMeMobile
10. Oman
- 10.1 Overview of Omans mobile market
  - 10.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 10.2 Regulatory issues
  - 10.2.1 Second mobile licence
  - 10.2.2 Reseller licences
- 10.3 Mobile technologies
  - 10.3.1 Analogue
  - 10.3.2 Digital
  - 10.3.3 Third generation mobile
- 10.4 Major mobile operators
  - 10.4.1 Oman Mobile Telecommunications (OMTC)
  - 10.4.2 Nawras Telecom (Omani-Qatari Telecommunications Company)
- 10.5 Mobile voice services
  - 10.5.1 Prepaid
  - 10.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 10.6 Mobile data services
  - 10.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 10.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 10.6.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
  - 10.6.4 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 10.6.5 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 10.6.6 High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
  - 10.6.7 BlackBerry
11. Qatar
- 11.1 Overview of Qatars mobile market
  - 11.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 11.2 Regulatory issues
  - 11.2.1 Second mobile licence
- 11.3 Mobile technologies
  - 11.3.1 Analogue
  - 11.3.2 Digital
  - 11.3.3 Third generation mobile
- 11.4 Major mobile operator
  - 11.4.1 Qtel
  - 11.4.2 Vodafone Qatar
- 11.5 Mobile voice services
  - 11.5.1 Prepaid
  - 11.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 11.6 Mobile data services
  - 11.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 11.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 11.6.3 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 11.6.4 BlackBerry
  - 11.6.5 Mobile TV
  - 11.6.6 Email
- 11.7 Mobile content and applications
12. Saudi Arabia
- 12.1 Overview of Saudi Arabias mobile market
  - 12.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 12.2 Regulatory issues
  - 12.2.1 Award of second GSM mobile licence
  - 12.2.2 iDEN contract awarded
  - 12.2.3 Award of 3G licences
  - 12.2.4 Award of third mobile licence
  - 12.2.5 Spam controls
- 12.3 Mobile technologies
  - 12.3.1 Analogue
  - 12.3.2 Digital
  - 12.3.3 3G
- 12.4 Major mobile operators
  - 12.4.1 Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
  - 12.4.2 Ettihad Etisalat (Mobily)
  - 12.4.3 Public Telecommunications Company (Bravo)
  - 12.4.4 Zain Saudi Arabia
- 12.5 Mobile voice services
  - 12.5.1 Prepaid
  - 12.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 12.6 Mobile data services
  - 12.6.1 Mobile TV
- 12.7 Mobile content and applications
  - 12.7.1 Location-based services (LBS)
13. Syria
- 13.1 Overview of Syrias mobile market
  - 13.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 13.2 Regulatory issues
  - 13.2.1 Pilot project
  - 13.2.2 BOT contracts
- 13.3 Mobile technologies
  - 13.3.1 3G
- 13.4 Major mobile operators
  - 13.4.1 Syriatel
  - 13.4.2 MTN Syria
- 13.5 Mobile voice services
  - 13.5.1 Prepaid
  - 13.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 13.6 Mobile data services
14. Turkey
- 14.1 Overview of Turkeys mobile market
  - 14.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 14.2 Regulatory issues
  - 14.2.1 3G licences
  - 14.2.2 Third and fourth GSM licences
  - 14.2.3 Significant market power (SMP)
  - 14.2.4 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
  - 14.2.5 Telsim privatisation
- 14.3 Major mobile operators
  - 14.3.1 Turkcell
  - 14.3.2 Vodafone (Telsim)
  - 14.3.3 Avea
  - 14.3.4 Turk Telekom
- 14.4 Mobile voice services
  - 14.4.1 Prepaid
  - 14.4.2 Satellite mobile
- 14.5 Mobile data services
  - 14.5.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 14.5.2 Multi Media Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 14.5.3 General Packet RadiService (GPRS)
  - 14.5.4 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 14.5.5 Enhanced Date for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  - 14.5.6 BlackBerry
  - 14.5.7 Mobile TV
- 14.6 Mobile content and applications
  - 14.6.1 Location-based services
  - 14.6.2 M-commerce
15. United Arab Emirates
- 15.1 Overview of UAEs mobile market
  - 15.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 15.2 Regulatory issues
  - 15.2.1 Overview
  - 15.2.2 Mobile number portability
- 15.3 Mobile technologies
  - 15.3.1 Analogue and digital
  - 15.3.2 Third generation mobile
- 15.4 Major mobile operators
  - 15.4.1 Etisalat
  - 15.4.2 Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company/du
- 15.5 Mobile voice services
  - 15.5.1 Prepaid
  - 15.5.2 Satellite mobile
- 15.6 Mobile data services
  - 15.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  - 15.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
  - 15.6.3 Push-to-talk (PTT)
  - 15.6.4 BlackBerry
  - 15.6.5 Mobile TV
16. Yemen
- 16.1 Overview of Yemens mobile market
  - 16.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 16.2 Regulatory issues
  - 16.2.1 GSM licences awarded
  - 16.2.2 Third GSM licence
- 16.3 Major mobile operators
  - 16.3.1 TeleYemen/Yemen Mobile
  - 16.3.2 SabaFon
  - 16.3.3 MTN Yemen
  - 16.3.4 HiTS Unitel
- 16.4 Mobile voice services
  - 16.4.1 Prepaid
  - 16.4.2 Satellite mobile
- 16.5 Mobile data services
17. Glossary of Abbreviations