ADSL offers and subscription free Internet phases out postpaid dialup Internet in Palestine.

November 16, 2006

Despite the fact that the Internet service in Palestine was introduced in 1994, ADSL and the Subscription Free Internet came to the market nine years later in 2005. The Subscription Free Internet caused a significant shakeup in the Internet market in Palestine, and particularly in the dialup access market. It replaced the dialup services offered prior to its launch. By end of June 2005 subscribers had a choice of 106 Subscription Free Internet numbers.

The Ministry of Telecom & IT (MTIT) in Palestine is the sole body that regulates the telecommunication, IT and Post sectors. Following decree number (3) of 1996, the MTIT of Palestine regulates and manages the wireless and cable telecommunication networks and is responsible of setting the telecommunication policies after getting the approval of the Board of Ministries. It is also the authorized body to grant the ISP licenses, determine their conditions, and approve their rates.

A new report, “Palestine Internet and Datacomm Landscape” was released to the Arab Advisors Group’s Telecoms Strategic Research Service subscribers on November 1, 2006. This report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 950. The 49-page report, which has 44 detailed exhibits, provides a detailed analysis of the Palestinian Internet and datacomm markets and profiles the major ISPs in the country. The report includes 5-year historical and 5-year projections on Internet uptake and revenues. The report provides, moreover, a detailed and comprehensive picture on the Internet market strategies and regulations, e-government, and online content and services landscape. Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the reports Table of Contents.

“Paltel reported that the market had a total of 79,778 Internet accounts by end of 2005. By June 2006, the total number further increased to 88,757 subscribers.” Miss Hadeel Sakkijha, Arab Advisors Research Analyst wrote in the report. “After increasing gradually to a peak of 45,329 subscribers in 2004, the prepaid and postpaid dialup subscriber-base witnessed a dramatic drop to reach 6,532 subscribers by June 2006. The drop can be explained by the rise in Subscription Free Internet Usage as well as ADSL service uptake. This reflects the rapid uptake of the two introduced services in the Palestinian market.” Miss Sakkijha added.

The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has already produced over close to 700 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 390 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications markets to these clients.