63.4% of Egyptian households with ADSL, share the ADSL connection with neighbors.

April 28, 2008

A new Arab Advisors Group survey of Egypt’s urban households reveals rampant broadband account sharing between neighbors. A massive 81.9% of households that use shared ADSL lines share them with more than three neighboring households. The Arab Advisors Group projects that around a million Egyptian households have access to broadband, due to the widespread practice of ADSL accounts sharing.

A new major survey, “Egypt Households Telecoms and Media Survey Report 2008” was concluded and released by the Arab Advisors Group on April 24, 2008. This survey report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for US$ 4,500. Subscribers to Arab Advisors Group Strategic Research Services can order the report for US$ 3,500.

The 159-page report, which has 262 detailed exhibits, provides the results of a major comprehensive survey of the telecommunications and media usage patterns and habits of the population across the Egyptian governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria, Dakahlia, Gharbia, Sohaj and Minya. The survey fieldwork was conducted during March and April 2008.

63.4% of Egyptian households with an ADSL connection reported sharing the ADSL connection with neighbors. Of those, a massive 81.9% share one ADSL line with more than three neighboring households.

“According to official figures from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt had 427,085 ADSL lines by the end of 2007. The Arab Advisors Group estimates that 75% of those are residential ADSL lines.” Jawad J. Abbassi, Founder and General Manager of Arab Advisors Group noted. “Based on the survey results, the average number of households sharing one ADSL connection is 2.98. Multiplying the reported number of lines by this figure yields an estimate for households with ADSL connections in Egypt of 956,000 households by end of 2007.” Mr. Abbassi added.

Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the report’s Table of Contents and the survey questions. An investment in the survey, can also count towards attending Arab Advisors’ Fifth annual Media and Telecoms Convergence Conference on June 2 & 3 2008 at the Four Seasons in Amman. More information on the conference can be viewed on http://www.arabadvisors.com/Convergence/schedule.htm

On Internet use patterns, 27.8% of Internet users access the Internet in Internet Cafes in Egypt. The survey revealed a major gender gap in Internet Cafes use: 35.1% of male Internet users use Internet cafes in contrast to only 13.3% of female Internet users. 81.2% of Internet users in Egypt prefer browsing the Internet in the Arabic language. The survey also revealed a limited adoption of e-commerce in Egypt. Only 1.3% of Internet users reported buying products or services, or paying bills online.

Arab Advisors Group’s major analytical survey of Egypt’s main cities was scientifically done. The survey involved face-to-face interviews with 700 respondents from different households in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, Dakahlia, Gharbia, Sohaj and Minya selected randomly in a manner proportionate to the population distribution according to official figures. Respondents were 15 years old and older. This random survey is of Egyptian households and represents the urban population in Egypt.

This survey provides deep insights into the telecommunications usage and media consumption patterns in Egypt. The random survey has a 99% confidence level with a less than 5% margin of error. In surveying households for their telecom and media consumption patterns, Arab Advisors Group always relies on the personal face to face interviews as it guarantees optimal representation and accuracy.

The survey report provides a balanced focus in the following areas:

Telecommunications
- Demographic information
- Fixed line subscription
- Telecommunications methods used
- Cellular subscription
- Mobile plans
- Mobile penetration and effective mobile penetration rates
- Services used
- Cellular handsets
- Cellular data services
- Bluetooth use
- SMS use
- MMS use
- 3G services
- International calls
- Perception of fixed and mobile operators
- Changing lines and operators
- Most important aspects for choosing a mobile operator
- Internet usage patterns
- Internet subscription
- ADSL penetration and effective ADSL penetration
- E-commerce

Media
- TV viewing patterns and habits
- FTA Satellite TV
- Credibility of News Channels
- Pay TV
- Terrestrial TV
- Radio
- Movies and movie theatres
- Daily News Update
- Media Advertising
- Media Satisfaction Levels

The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has produced over 1,080 reports on the Arab World’s communications and media markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Group’s (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Services (Media and Telecom). To date, Arab Advisors Group has served over 475 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications markets to these clients. Some of our clients can be viewed on http://www.arabadvisors.com/clients.htm