Kuwait’s telecom infrastructure is well developed, with a focus on mobile infrastructure and services. The telecoms sector is important to the country’s economy, and this will become more pronounced in coming years as the economy is purposefully transitioned away from a dependence on oil and gas to one which is increasingly knowledge-based and focussed on ICT and related services.
The MNOs have focussed investment on 5G networks, which support and promote the growth of data traffic. This in turn has been a catalyst for revenue growth in recent quarters.
While Kuwait’s mobile sector shows considerable progress; the country’s fixed broadband penetration is the lowest in the region. However, the government has stepped up efforts to build up fixed broadband networks, and ultimately this sector offers a potential future growth opportunity. Improvements to the fixed broadband infrastructure will help develop sectors such as e-commerce, along with smart infrastructure developments, and tech start-ups.
BuddeComm notes that the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains all around the world. During this time, the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device and ICT equipment production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to source necessary equipment or manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may also be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services is likely to be impacted by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. In contrast, the demand for mobile and broadband services is expected to rise, as more citizens will require online services for work, entertainment, education, tele-health, and social purposes.
Key developments:
- STC Kuwait launches 5G standalone services;
- Telecom regulator supporting infrastructure sharing in Kuwait;
- Kuwait noted as having the fastest 5G download rates in the region;
- Improvements to fibre-broadband infrastructure continue;
- Report update includes the regulator's market data to Q1 2021, telcos' financial and operating data to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
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Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the world’s largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.
The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:
Report title: Kuwait - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Edition: November 2021
Analyst: Henry Lancaster
Number of pages: 125
Companies mentioned in the report: Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC) / Zain, Ooredoo Kuwait, STC (Formerly Kuwait Telecom Company (KTC) / Viva)
Single User PDF Licence Price: US$890
For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Kuwait-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83
