| Custom
Consulting
Some
of Arab Advisors Group's Custom Research and Consulting Projects
in the Arab World
The
Arab Advisors Group has completed a number of major consulting projects
to date. Our consulting clients include AICO (Saudi Arabia), Batelco
Jordan, Batelco (Bahrain), Cisco Systems, CITC (Saudi Arabia), int@j
(Jordan), Jawwal (Palestine), Jordan Telecom, LINKdotNET (Egypt),
Mirsal (Jordan), Motorola, MTC (Kuwait), Etisalat (UAE), NAFES (Jordan),
NASCO (Saudi), XPress (Jordan), Orascom Telecom (Egypt), OTE (Greece),
PTC/BRAVO (Saudi Arabia), Saudi Oger (Saudi Arabia), Vodafone (UK),
investment banking companies and venture capital companies.
The Arab Advisors Group is locally present in
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) through strategic
associations with The Economic Bureau and AL-Farouk Economic Consultancy.
Following
is a brief description of some of our consulting and custom research
engagements:
Cellular Competitive Moves
Analysis for Jawwal - Palestine
Between January and March 2005, the Arab Advisors Group analyzed
eight major Arab cellular markets in terms of effect of competition
and competitive strategies. The project intended to draw lessons
and trends from regional experiences on competition and its effects
on the markets. The markets analyzed were Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt,
Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait and Yemen.
The analysis of the markets included economic indicators,
cellular market metrics before and after competition including subscribes,
revenues, ARPUs, traffic, number of packages. The exercise also
included an analysis of the competitive moves done by incumbents
and new entrants and their effect on the market.
Batelco-Jordan analysis of the Jordanian
ICT markets
Between August and October 2004, the Arab Advisors Group was contracted
by Batelco – Jordan to undertake a comprehensive study and
analysis of the current use of communications services (Fixed, Cellular,
Internet and datacomm) and information technology in Jordan. The
work included an assessment of the residential and corporate sectors’
future needs and the challenges facing the adoption of advanced
communications services these markets.
The project encompassed assessing the demand for
the communications services amongst individuals and businesses in
Jordan through a primary research and survey-based approach. The
project provided a comprehensive report on the communications products
and services provided in the Jordanian market as well as the level
of usage of these products and services by individuals and businesses
in Jordan. The work also included an analysis of the level of satisfaction
by individuals and businesses with these products and services.
In total 295 households and businesses were surveyed. The results
were fully analyzed and cross tabulated by the Arab Advisors team.
Saudi Arabia Sat TV and Radio Multi-Client Survey
Between August and September 2004, the Arab Advisors Group conducted
a survey of households in Saudi Arabia that use and view Arabic
and Non-Arabic Satellite TV channels. With a sample size of 134
households, the random sample survey has a 95% confidence level
with a less than 9% margin of error.
The survey probed the brand name recognition of Sat
TV channels in Saudi Arabia as well as the extent to which these
channels are viewed. It covered the brand name recognition and viewer
ship patterns the general entertainment channels, the music channels,
religious programming channels, sports channels and news channels.
The survey covers individuals from different households
in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Dhahran. The 119 respondents that
are Satellite TV viewers are divided into 67 males and 52 females.
The sample is further divided into 93 Saudis and 41 non-Saudi but
Arabic Speaking nationals. To mirror the demographic situation fully,
the sample also corresponds to the age distribution of the Saudi
population. The results and full analysis of the survey can be purchased
from the Arab Advisors Group.
Financing needs of Jordanian ICT companies Survey
In May 2004, the Arab Advisors Group built, developed, and conducted
an in-depth survey to assess the financial/ investment needs of
Jordanian ICT-SME's. The study was commissioned by The Information
Technology Association - Jordan (int@j). The objective of this survey
assess analyzed the capital/financing needs of IT companies in Jordan,
types of required financing, uses of any funds provided, key challenges
and obstacles in fulfilling funding needs of companies and current
financing options for ICT SME's. The project included in depth face
to face interview with 50 ICT companies in Jordan that was fully
statically analyzed with relevant cross tabulations by the Arab
Advisors Group team.
Saudi Arabia GSM Multi-Client Survey
The Arab Advisors Group conduced a major survey of GSM users in
Saudi Arabia; this was between the start of May and early June 2004.
The major survey of 202 households in Saudi Arabia provides deep
insights into the usage pattern in the Arab World's largest GSM
market. The random survey, which was concluded on June 4 2004 and
has a 99% confidence level with a 9% margin of error.
The survey covered 202 individuals from different
households in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Dhahran. The respondents
were all GSM users and are divided into 112 males and 88 females.
The sample is further divided into 141 Saudis and 61 non-Saudis.
To mirror the demographic situation fully, the sample also corresponds
to the age distribution of the Saudi population. The survey had
50 detailed questions that address the following matters.
Areas covered in the survey included perceptions of
Saudi Telecom services and offers, level of Satisfaction with Saudi
Telecom, propensity to use a second GSM operator when one is available
in Saudi Arabia, handset choices and brands, features and technologies
supported by handsets, handset replacement cycles, use of SMS and
Value added services, voice Usage levels, types of packages subscribed
to, effective Media channels for consumer choices and information
on households of respondents.
Over 10 major regional and global companies that are
interested in the Saudi Arabia market bought the results of the
survey. The results and full analysis of the survey can be purchased
from the Arab Advisors Group.
Vodafone Custom Survey of GSM users in Saudi Arabia
In May and June 2004, the Arab Advisors Group conducted a major
survey of GSM users in Saudi Arabia for Vodafone PLC. The major
survey covered GSM users across Saudi Arabia’s major cities
and population centers. The survey results were fully analyzed and
cross-tabulated. Areas covered in the survey included perceptions
of Saudi Telecom services and offers, level of Satisfaction with
Saudi Telecom, propensity to use a second GSM operator when one
is available in Saudi Arabia, handset choices and brands, features
and technologies supported by handsets, handset replacement cycles,
use of SMS and Value added services, voice Usage levels, types of
packages subscribed to, effective Media channels for consumer choices
and information on households of respondents.
A study of the Saudi Datacomm and Internet market for Batelco
Between May and June 2004, the Arab Advisors Group was engaged by
Batelco to do a major survey and study of the Saudi Internet and
Datacomm market. The study encompassed benchmarking the Saudi data
communications market with regional and global markets to foresee
the potential addressable market for data communications services.
In addition, the Arab Advisors Group, in conjunction
with Batelco, developed a comprehensive survey questionnaire to
assess the attractiveness and potential demand for datacomm services
in the Kingdom. This survey included questions to categorize the
potential users of datacomm services by business profile, user profile
and service usage patterns as well as to test users reaction to
the different service aspects.
The Arab Advisors Group conducted the survey, based
on face-to-face and phone interviews, with 140 companies in Saudi
Arabia. The sample was selected randomly to fit the geographic and
sector distribution of the businesses in Saudi Arabia.
The Arab Advisors Group fully analyzed the survey
results and cross-tabulated the results. The deliverables included
market positioning advice and forecasts for market growth.
A market entry study for a group of new services by Jordan Radio
Paging “Mirsal”
Between November and December 2003, the Arab Advisors Group undertook
a detailed market entry study for a slew of new services by Jordan’s
radio paging operator. The services are based on a new a technology
platform that avails services beyond traditional paging.
The Arab Advisors Group analyzed and surveyed the
market to offer recommendations on how best to market and promote
these new solutions. The project included a full analysis of the
potential uses of Mirsal’s technology platforms as well as
devising sellable solutions of Mirsal’s technology platforms
and detailing their revenue models. The solutions were tested in
the market through a face-to-face survey of a sample of the targeted
segments. The Arab Advisors Group fully analyzed the survey results
and recommended modifications to the solutions based on the survey
and study results.
Business Plan for a prospective GSM handset
agency in Iraq
In September 2003, the Arab Advisors Group undertook and completed
a business plan for a Kuwait-based company seeking to be a GSM handsets
agency in Iraq for a major global GSM vendor. The Arab Advisors
Group team capitalized on its knowledge base and databases on the
Iraqi and regional GSM markets in order to prepare a comprehensive
business plan and market entry strategy. Arab Advisors Group work
included availing best practice advice to the prospective agency.
The delivered tasks included a market entry strategy,
a marketing plan, the organizational structure as well as a detailed
business plan with Demand and Revenue Forecasts, Capital and Expense
Estimates, Cash Flows and Economic and Accounting Indicators.
Market segmentation and rates study for New Generation Telecommunications
Company in Jordan (XPRESS)
Between March and September 2003, the Arab Advisors Group completed
a major market study and analysis project for Jordan’s Radio
Trunking licensee, New Generation Telecom Company. This follows
on the earlier studies conducted by the Arab Advisors Group whereby
a comprehensive study, of the market potential in Jordan as well
as the operator’s business plan were completed.
The first phase of the work included the collection
and assembly of extensive demographic information on the businesses
in the various major economic sectors in Jordan. These included
tourism, trade, finance, insurance, real-estate, construction, manufacturing,
transportation, agriculture, the professionals, and the mass market
(residential, students). The data was complied from various reliable
sources into one user-friendly electronic database for use by New
Generation Telecommunications Company.
The second phase of the project included a major survey
a major survey process that encompassed 226 companies, employing
over 10% of Jordan’s total workforce, in ten cities across
fifteen different sectors and groups in Jordan. To assess the prevailing
communications usage patterns in the country. The work included
full statistical analysis and cross tabulations of the survey which
gave valuable insights on the market segments, their usage patterns
and preferences. The Arab Advisors Group analyzed the results in
the context of the Jordanian communications sector and gave recommendations
accordingly.
Business Plan and market study for a prospective VSAT Service provider
in Saudi Arabia
Between April and June 2003, the Arab Advisors Group undertook and
completed detailed studies for a prospective VSAT operator in Saudi
Arabia. The Arab Advisors Group team capitalized on its knowledge
base and databases on VSAT services across the region in order to
prepare a comprehensive business plan and market entry strategy.
Arab Advisors Group work included availing best practice advice
to the prospective operator.
The delivered tasks included a market entry strategy,
a marketing plan, the organizational structure as well as a detailed
business plan with Demand and Revenue Forecasts, Capital and Expense
Estimates, Cash Flows and Economic and Accounting Indicators.
Public Telecommunications Company’s
Radio Trunking Study in Saudi Arabia
Between February and April 2003, The Arab Advisors Group undertook
a consulting project for the Public Telecommunications Company (PTC)
in Saudi Arabia. PTC will setup a nationwide radio trunking system
in Saudi Arabia using Motorola’s iDEN technology.
The Arab Advisors Group completed a comprehensive
study of the mobile market in Saudi Arabia to quantify the potential
for Motorola’s iDEN system for Public Access Mobile Radio
(PAMR or Radio Trunking) in the country. The Arab Advisors Group
also designed and executed a detailed, face-to-face survey of 108
major companies in Saudi to assess the corporate demand. The results
of the study were statistically analyzed and cross tabulated and
fed into a market model to assist in the forecasts and projections.
The Arab Advisors Group presented detailed findings and analysis
of the market and projected possible subscriber uptake for five
years in the future.
Jordanian SMEs’ Technology Adoption
Study
Between December 2002 and February 2003, the Arab Advisors Group
conducted a comprehensive study and survey of the technology and
Internet adoption amongst small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in
Jordan.
The National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) provided
the bulk of the funding for the study, which was coordinated by
the Information Technology Association of Jordan (int@j). Seven
companies and organizations participated in the study and partially
financed it. These are Batelco – Jordan, Bidaya Ventures,
Global One – Jordan, Jordan Telecom, LINKdotNET, the Ministry
of Information and Communications Technology and STS.
On the supply side, the analysis encompassed the vendors
and operators for technology, Internet and software products in
the market. On the demand side, the study included conducting extensive
interviews with 247 small and medium enterprises across the major
economic sectors in the country in Jordan’s four main cities
of Amman, Zarqa, Irbid and Aqaba. SMEs were defined as companies
employing 5 to 100 people. The sample was randomly selected and
proportionately represented the SMEs in the four cities and across
the major economic sectors. The economic sectors covered were tourism
(restaurants and hotels), trade, finance, insurance, real estate,
construction, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.
Arab Advisors Group analysis was wholly based on a
primary research and survey-based approach. The Arab Advisors team
provided a comprehensive report on the Internet and datacomm products
and services available in the Jordanian market as well as the level
of usage of these products and services by Jordanian SMEs.
The project’s deliverables included a report
detailing the services and products available in the market, a report
analyzing the results and highlighting the major findings, the full
survey results (raw data). The deliverables also included an excel
sheet with further analysis of the raw data, and a power point presentation.
Jordan Telecom Outsourced Call Center Study
In May 2002, Jordan Telecom commissioned the Arab Advisors Group
to conduct a market research study to fully assess the potential
for an outsourced call center that Jordan Telecom intends to launch
and the regional competitive landscape for outsourced call centers.
The study examined nine countries in the region, which are Jordan,
Lebanon, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia and
Bahrain.
The Arab Advisors Group presented a detailed profile of the call
centers identified and researched by our team, a SWOT analysis of
each call center, a summary of the regional situation, and the existing
and potential demand for the call center services in the region.
The Arab Advisors team worked closely with Jordan Telecom team and
managed to survey 245 companies and 23 call centers across the selected
region. The Arab Advisors Group analyzed the survey results by our
specialized survey package with cross tabs, filters and full statistical
analysis.
The project’s deliverables included a report analyzing the
results and highlighting the major findings, the full survey results
(raw data) for the call centers and the enterprises, an excel sheet
with further analysis of the data, and a power point presentation.
Cisco Systems Arab World IT CAPEX Survey
In April 2002, Cisco Systems retained the Arab Advisors Group to
conduct a CAPEX survey in the Arab World to have a reliable indication
of the allocation of CAPEX budgets across the region and across
economic and business sectors. The countries covered included Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, The Arab Maghreb (Morocco, Tunisia and
Algeria), The Levant (Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), Oman, Qatar and
Bahrain.
The CAPEX survey covered both the service provider
and the enterprise markets. Enterprises were targeted with a focus
on Government and public sector, Financial, industrial, oil and
gas and military. On the service provide side, the survey focused
on PSTN operators, GSM operators and major ISPs and Datacomm service
providers. The Arab Advisors Team conducted extensive contact with
enterprises and service providers across the designated region.
The team completed 70 enterprise surveys and 25 service provider
surveys with a total count of 95.
The projects deliverables included a report analyzing
the results and highlighting the major findings, the full survey
results (raw data) for Service Providers and Enterprises, An excel
sheet with further analysis of the raw data, and a power point presentation.
AICO and Motorola’s Radio Trunking Study
in Jordan
In April 2002, The Arab Advisors Group completed a consulting project
for Motorola, NASCO- Saudi Arabia and AICO – Saudi Arabia.
The project included a comprehensive study of the mobile market
in Jordan to quantify the potential for Public Access Mobile Radio
(PAMR or Radio Trunking) in Jordan. The work included surveying
90 major companies in the country. The Arab Advisors Group presented
detailed findings and analysis of the market and projected possible
subscriber uptake for 10 years in the future.
Between July and October 2002, the Arab Advisors Group
actively participated in authoring the business plan of the iDEN
operator in Jordan whose tentative license was announced in October
2002. The work was done in partnership with Deloitte & Touche.
The business plan work included conducting further analysis of the
market and regional benchmarking as well as a survey for possible
rates and packages and the ARPU level for the new operator.
The study of regional datacommunications markets
for a Gulf-based regional player
A major consulting assignment involved delivering a number of reports
to gauge the potential Middle East telecommunications markets and
to assess the potential for expansion into these markets. The focus
involved eight countries. Within each of these markets, the client
needed to assess demand from multinational corporations (MNCs),
Regional Corporations, National Corporations and Small and Medium
Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the economic sectors of Banking and
Finance, Information Technology, Oil and Gas, Travel, Transport
and Tourism, Manufacturing, Construction, Trade and other sectors.
The client needed an assessment of the demand for the market for
Internet, Messaging, Data communications, Voice and other data services.
The interim deliverables included primary research
schedule for each of the markets under study and the format of the
semi-structured interviews were put in place as well as an identification
of the principal parties and companies to be interviewed to meet
the required results. They also included market-based models to
capture the results of the research on every market. These modules
had built in them fully explained forecasting models, for users,
demand, revenues and equipment infrastructure spending.
The final deliverables included a report with a chapter
on each market studied. For every country, the Arab Advisors Group
included a conclusion on the market potential and recommendation
on what sectors are open for investments, their attractiveness,
the forecast market size, and practical steps to enter the market
(including suggestions on possible local partners). The analysis
included what-if scenarios that take into account the possibility
of potential changing circumstances and policies in every country.
Other projects
Other consulting projects encompassed a fact collection and analysis
report on the potential for Communications and Information Technology
investment fund for a venture capital firm, and a report on the
SMS and franchised fast food retail industries in the Arab World
for an investment banking firm. Moreover, our team has been helping
our clients and subscribers collect and analyst market information
and trends through the analyst interaction time component of our
Strategic Research Service.
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