PSTN lines in the Arab World continue their decline in 2009

February 28th, 2010

Twenty fixed line operators in fifteen Arab countries served 27.8 million fixed line subscriptions by end of September 2009 down from 29.2 million at year end 2008, a drop of 4.6%. A new report from Arab Advisors Group analyzes and ranks 20 fixed service operators in fifteen Arab countries by September 2009. Telecom Egypt and Saudi Telecom (STC) stand out as the largest Arab fixed line operators in terms of subscribers.

 

By September 2009, the total fixed line subscribers of twenty operators in fifteen Arab countries amounted to 27.824 million. The biggest two operators by mainlines subscribers in 2008, Telecom Egyptand STC, maintained their leading positions by September 2009. Telecom Egypt and STC recorded 9.631 million and 4.169 million subscribers respectively. Syrian Telecom (STE) was the third largest fixed line operator among the examined fixed line operators. UAE recorded the highest fixed line penetration rate by September 2009 followed by Lebanon.

 

A new report, “A Scorecard of Key Performance Indicators of Fixed Operators in the Arab World” was released to the Arab Advisors Group’s Telecoms Strategic Research Service subscribers on February 9, 2010. This report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 1,000. The 26-page report, which has 24 detailed exhibits, provides a comprehensive analysis of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the fixed voice operators in the Arab region. The KPIs are for the year 2008 and YTD September 2009. The report covers nineteen countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

 

The report offers analytical comparisons between the service providers, by examining their performance in terms of absolute number of subscribers, penetration rates, market shares, revenues, monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), and key financial ratios. Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the report's Table of Contents.

 

 


“With the introduction of fixed wireless services, several Arab countries have liberalized their fixedline markets. Between October 2008 and December 2009, new fixed licenses have been awarded in Bahrain, Libya, Omanand Tunisia.” Mrs. Faten Bader, Senior Research Analyst at Arab Advisors Group. “The report revealed that by September 2009, the total number of fixed subscribers of twenty examined operators in fifteen Arab countries stood at 27.824 million; indicating a decline of 4.59% over their year-end 2008 total fixed line subscriber figure. Fixed line subscribers -of the twenty operators- declined by 1.338 million subscribers during the first nine months of 2009.” Ms. Danya Nusseir, Senior Research Analyst at Arab Advisors Group added.

 

Any investmentin this report will count towards an annual Strategic Research Service subscription should the service be acquired within three months from purchasing the report. An investment in the report can also count toward sattending Arab Advisors' 7th annual Media and Telecoms Convergence Conference on June 7 & 8 2010 at the Four Seasons in Amman. More information on the conference can be viewed on http://www.arabadvisors.com/Convergence/schedule.htm


The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has produced over 1,800 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 560 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications markets. Some of our clients can be viewed on http://www.arabadvisors.com/clients.htm