2008 Middle Eastern - Mobile Communications and Mobile Data Market

2008 Middle Eastern - Mobile Communications and Mobile Data Market

This annual report offers a wealth of information on the mobile markets in the Middle East. Counties covered: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Yemen. Subjects covered include:

• Mobile statistics and trends;
  
  
• Mobile operators;
  
  
• Spectrum and licence auctions, developments, national policies;
  
  
• Infrastructure, GSM, CDMA, 3G, HSDPA;
  
  
• Trends in the prepaid sector;
  
  
• Mobile satellite services;
  
  
• Mobile data markets;
  
  
• Mobile TV.

 
 

1. The Middle East’s 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 Bahrain’s 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 Batelco

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 Batelco

2.7.2 Zain Bahrain

3. Egypt

3.1 Overview of Egypt’s mobile market

3.1.1 Telecom Egypt’s 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 Iran’s 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 Radio Service (GPRS)

5. Iraq

5.1 Overview of Iraq’s 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 Israel’s 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 Jordan’s 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 Radio Service (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 Kuwait’s 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 Co (Zain)

8.4.2 National Mobile Telecommunication Co (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 Radio Service (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 Lebanon’s mobile market

9.1.1 High tariffs

9.1.2 Mobile statistics

9.2 Regulatory issues

9.2.1 Overview

9.2.2 Lebanon’s 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 Oman’s 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 Radio Service (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 Qatar’s 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 Radio Service (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 Arabia’s 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 Syria’s 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 Turkey’s 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 Radio Service (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 UAE’s 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 Yemen’s 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

 
 

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More Details

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.