Middle East - Digital Media, Broadband, Internet Markets and Forecasts

• Publication date: December 2011

Broadband competition emerges from an unlikely sourceThe disparity in economic development across the Middle East is reflected in the region’s Internet and broadband penetration rates, although overall penetration rates for the region remain low. Increasing competition is improving affordability while a generally young population is a driver for growth. The state of broadband development is most evident in the small, oil-rich and developed c...

Broadband competition emerges from an unlikely sourceThe disparity in economic development across the Middle East is reflected in the region’s Internet and broadband penetration rates, although overall penetration rates for the region remain low. Increasing competition is improving affordability while a generally young population is a driver for growth.
The state of broadband development is most evident in the small, oil-rich and developed countries of the Gulf, where take up is driven by some of the highest incomes per capita in the world. Examples include Qatar, Bahrain and UAE.
Competition is predominantly infrastructure based due to the lack of effective regulatory regimes for wholesale network access. Despite this, progress is evident with demand for wholesale products such as naked DSL in the UAE indicating potential for future growth.
ADSL remains the dominant broadband platform given the reach of incumbent networks. However a number of countries have embarked on ambitious fibre or hybrid fibre network rollouts or indicated a willingness to do so, including Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey.
Although much was made of WiMAX network deployments in previous years, the emerging mobile broadband products from the region’s competitive mobile markets offer the most likely source of significant competition moving forward.
Underpinning the focus on mobile broadband is the need by mobile operators to develop new revenue growth opportunities as mobile voice markets reach maturity. In many instances the downlink speeds advertised by the mobile operators which have deployed HSPA or LTE networks is higher that offered by competing ADSL offerings.
Growing Internet usage across the Middle East is highlighting the under-representation of Arabic content online. This has been officially recognised by regulators, with some such as Qatar’s ictQATAR endeavouring to establish digital media hubs to cater for the impending demand. In the broadcasting space, telecom operators are emulating their global counterparts by launching IPTV offerings, which in many instances face tough competition from the region’s flourishing Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite TV sector.
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Broadband Industry

1. Bahrain
1.1 Broadband access market
1.1.1 Overview
1.1.2 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
1.1.3 Fibre to the Home (FttH)
1.1.4 Wireless broadband
1.1.5 VoIP
1.2 Digital broadcasting
1.2.1 Satellite TV
2. Iran
2.1 Broadband access market
2.1.1 Overview
2.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
2.1.3 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
2.1.4 Wireless (fixed) broadband
2.2 Digital media overview
2.2.1 2009 Presidential elections and follow-up
2.3 Digital broadcasting
2.3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
2.3.2 Satellite TV
3. Iraq
3.1 Broadband access market
3.1.1 Overview
3.1.2 Broadband and Internet subscriber forecasts
3.1.3 Wireless broadband
3.2 Digital media overview
4. Israel
4.1 Broadband access market
4.1.1 Overview
4.1.2 Broadband and Internet statistics
4.1.3 ADSL and cable networks
4.1.4 Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH)
4.1.5 WiFi
4.1.6 WiMAX
4.2 Digital media overview
4.2.1 Walla! Communications Ltd
4.2.2 Nana
4.3 Digital broadcasting
4.3.1 Overview of the broadcasting market
4.3.2 Regulatory issues
4.3.3 Cable TV
4.3.4 Satellite TV – Yes TV
4.3.5 Digital Terrestrial TV (DTTV)
4.3.6 IPTV
4.3.7 Video-on-Demand (VoD)
4.3.8 High Definition TV (HDTV)
5. Jordan
5.1 Broadband access market
5.1.1 Overview
5.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
5.1.3 ISP market
5.1.4 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
5.1.5 Wireless (fixed) broadband
5.2 Digital media overview
5.2.1 Maktoob Group
5.2.2 Jabbar Internet Group
5.2.3 Jeeran
5.2.4 Watwet/TootCorp
5.3 Digital broadcasting
5.3.1 Broadcasting market overview
5.3.2 Jordan Media City (JMC)
5.3.3 Jordan Television (JTV)
5.3.4 Rubicon Group
5.3.5 IPTV
6. Kuwait
6.1 Broadband access market
6.1.1 Overview
6.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
6.1.3 ISP market
6.1.4 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
6.1.5 Wireless broadband
6.1.6 VoIP
6.2 Digital media overview
6.3 Digital broadcasting
6.3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
7. Lebanon
7.1 Broadband access market
7.1.1 Overview
7.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
7.1.3 Data service providers
7.1.4 ISP market
7.1.5 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
7.1.6 Cable modems
7.1.7 Wireless broadband
7.1.8 VoIP
7.1.9 Triple play
7.2 Digital media overview
7.2.1 Woopra
7.3 Digital broadcasting
7.3.1 Overview
7.3.2 Broadcasting regulation
7.3.3 Free-to-Air (FTA) and satellite TV
7.3.4 Pay TV
8. Oman
8.1 Broadband access market
8.1.1 Overview
8.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
8.1.3 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
8.1.4 Fibre to the Home (FttH)
8.1.5 Wireless broadband
8.2 Digital media overview
8.2.1 Knowledge Oasis Muscat
8.3 Digital broadcasting
8.3.1 Overview of the broadcasting market
9. Qatar
9.1 Broadband access market
9.1.1 Overview
9.1.2 Broadband forecasts
9.1.3 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
9.1.4 Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH)
9.1.5 Wireless Broadband
9.1.6 Triple play
9.1.7 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
9.2 Digital broadcasting
9.2.1 Overview of broadcasting market
9.2.2 IPTV
9.2.3 Al Jazeera
10. Saudi Arabia
10.1 Broadband access market
10.1.1 Overview
10.1.2 Broadband forecasts
10.1.3 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
10.1.4 Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH)
10.1.5 Broadband powerline (BPL)
10.1.6 Wireless broadband
10.2 Digital media overview
10.2.1 Social media
10.3 Digital Broadcasting
10.3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
10.3.2 Satellite-based digital Pay TV
11. Syria
11.1 Broadband access market
11.1.1 Overview
11.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
11.1.3 ISP market
11.1.4 Wireless broadband
11.2 Digital media overview
11.3 Digital broadcasting overview
12. Turkey
12.1 Broadband access market
12.1.1 Overview
12.1.2 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL)
12.1.3 Cable modems
12.1.4 Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH) networks
12.2 Digital media overview
12.3 Digital broadcasting
12.3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
12.3.2 Broadcasting regulation
12.3.3 Digital TV
13. United Arab Emirates
13.1 Broadband and Internet Market
13.1.1 Overview
13.1.2 Broadband statistics
13.1.3 Internet access locations
13.1.4 Fibre to the Home (FttH)
13.1.5 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
13.1.6 Cable modems
13.1.7 Wireless broadband
13.2 Digital media overview
13.2.1 Tejari
13.2.2 Bayt.com
13.3 Digital broadcasting
13.3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
13.3.2 Digital TV
14. Yemen
14.1 Broadband access market
14.1.1 Overview
14.1.2 Broadband subscriber forecasts
14.1.3 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
14.2 Digital broadcasting
14.2.1 Overview
15. Glossary of Abbreviations
Table 1 – Internet users and penetration estimates in Bahrain - 1995 - 2011
Table 2 – Fixed Internet subscribers in Bahrain - 2000 – 2011
Table 3 – Broadband subscribers in Bahrain - 2005 - 2010
Table 4 – Broadband subscribers by access method in Bahrain – 2004 - 2010
Table 5 – Dial-up Internet subscribers in Bahrain - 2005 - 2010
Table 6 – Market share of Internet and broadband by access method in Bahrain – 2004 - 2010
Table 7 – Broadband subscribers by access speed in Bahrain – 2007 - 2009
Table 8 – Business broadband subscribers by access method in Bahrain – 2004 - 2009
Table 9 – Broadband monthly ARPU in Bahrain – 2007 - 2009
Table 10 – Internet users and penetration estimates in Iran – 1996 - 2011
Table 11 – Fixed broadband subscribers in Iran – 2000 – 2010
Table 12 – Household PC penetration in Iran – 2002 - 2011
Table 13 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Iran – higher growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 14 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Iran – lower growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 15 – Internet user penetration and estimates in Iraq – 2001 – 2011
Table 16 – Fixed broadband subscribers and estimates in Iraq – 2006 – 2011
Table 17 – Internet users, penetration and household penetration estimates in Israel – 1997 - 2011
Table 18 – Fixed broadband subscribers, annual change and household penetration in Israel – 2001 - 2011
Table 19 – ADSL and cable networks in Israel – subscribers and market share – 2005 - 2011
Table 20 – Bezeq broadband subscriber ARPU in Israel – 2005 - 2011
Table 21 – NetVision broadband subscribers in Israel – 2006 - 2011
Table 22 – Household PC penetration in Israel – 2002 - 2011
Table 23 – YES revenue and profit in Israel – 2007 - 2011
Table 24 – YES satellite TV subscribers, market share and ARPU in Israel – 2002 - 2011
Table 25 – Internet users and penetration rate in Jordan – 1995 - 2011
Table 26 – Internet subscribers and penetration rate in Jordan – 1999 - 2011
Table 27 – Internet subscribers by access method in Jordan – 2009 - 2010
Table 28 – Umniah broadband subscribers in Jordan – 2009 - 2011
Table 29 – DSL subscribers in Jordan - 2001 - 2010
Table 30 – Wi-tribe financial data in Jordan – 2009 – 2011
Table 31 – Wi-tribe ARPU in Jordan – 2011
Table 32 – Facebook data for Jordan – December 2010
Table 33 – JRTVC revenue in Jordan – 2005 - 2007
Table 34 – Internet user and penetration estimates in Kuwait – 1995 - 2011
Table 35 – Internet subscribers in Kuwait - 2003 - 2011
Table 36 – Fixed Broadband subscribers in Kuwait - 2001 - 2011
Table 37 – Household PC penetration in Kuwait – 2002 - 2011
Table 38 – Internet user and penetration estimates in Lebanon – 1995 - 2011
Table 39 – Fixed Internet subscribers in Lebanon – 2001 - 2011
Table 40 – Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration in Lebanon – 2002 - 2011
Table 41 – ADSL subscribers in Lebanon – 2006 - 2011
Table 42 – Household PC penetration in Lebanon – 2002 - 2011
Table 43 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Lebanon – higher growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 44 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Lebanon – lower growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 45 – Facebook data for Lebanon – December 2010
Table 46 – Internet users and penetration estimates in Oman – 1998 - 2011
Table 47 – Fixed-line Internet subscribers in Oman – 2000 - 2011
Table 48 – Fixed broadband subscribers in Oman – 2004 - 2011
Table 49 – ADSL subscribers in Oman – 2005 - 2011
Table 50 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Oman – higher growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 51 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Oman – lower growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 52 – Facebook data for Oman – December 2010
Table 53 – Internet users and penetration estimates in Qatar – 1995 - 2011
Table 54 – Internet subscribers in Qatar - 1999 - 2011
Table 55 – Fixed broadband subscribers in Qatar – 2003 – 2011
Table 56 – Household PC penetration in Qatar – 2007 - 2011
Table 57 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Qatar – higher growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 58 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Qatar – lower growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 59 – Qtel triple play subscribers in Qatar – 2008 - 2011
Table 60 – Internet users and penetration estimates in Saudi Arabia – 1995 - 2011
Table 61 – Broadband subscribers and household penetration in Saudi Arabia – 2001 - 2011
Table 62 – Household PC penetration in Saudi Arabia – 2002 - 2011
Table 63 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Saudi Arabia – higher growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 64 – Forecast broadband subscribers in Saudi Arabia – lower growth scenario – 2011, 2015; 2020
Table 65 – Facebook data for Saudi Arabia – December 2010
Table 66 – Internet user and penetration rate in Syria – 1999 - 2011
Table 67 – Fixed Internet subscribers and penetration rate in Syria – 1999 - 2011
Table 68 – Household PC penetration in Syria – 2002 - 2011
Table 69 – Fixed broadband subscribers in Syria – 2004 - 2011
Table 70 – Internet user and penetration rate estimates in Turkey – 1998 - 2011
Table 71 – Broadband subscribers and penetration in Turkey – 2001 - 2011
Table 72 – Broadband subscribers by access technology in Turkey – 2004 - 2011
Table 73 – ISP market share in Turkey – June 2011
Table 74 – Turk Telekom ADSL ARPU and proportion of total fixed-line revenue in Turkey – 2007 - 2011
Table 75 – Audience share by channel in Turkey – January – June 2011
Table 76 – Satellite pay TV subscribers per operator in Turkey – 2010 - 2011
Table 77 – Internet user and penetration estimates in United Arab Emirates – 1995 - 2011
Table 78 – Internet subscribers and penetration in United Arab Emirates – 2000 - 2011
Table 79 – Internet and broadband subscribers by access method in United Arab Emirates – 2000 - 2011
Table 80 – Residential and business Internet and broadband subscribers in United Arab Emirates – 2007 - 2010
Table 81 – Total Internet revenue and Internet and broadband ARPU in United Arab Emirates – 2007 - 2010
Table 82 – Facebook data for United Arab Emirates – December 2010
Table 83 – Online activity by individuals in United Arab Emirates – 2010
Table 84 – du IPTV subscribers in United Arab Emirates – 2008 - 2011
Table 85 – Facebook data for Yemen – December 2010
Table 86 – Internet user and penetration estimates in Yemen – 1997 - 2011
Table 87 – Households with Internet access in Yemen – 2004 - 2011
Table 88 – Fixed broadband subscribers in Yemen – 2005 - 2011
Table 89 – Household PC penetration in Yemen – 2005 - 2011
Chart 1 – Chart of Fixed Internet Subscribers and Users in Bahrain – 2000 - 2011