PSTN in the Arab World continues its decline in 2009

Details: Category: Trends & Forecasts; 11 March 2010; 9896 views

A new report from Arab Advisors Group analyses and ranks 20 fixed-service operators in 15 Arab countries. Key performers are to be found in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Twenty fixed-line operators in 15 Arab countries served 27.8 million fixed-line subscriptions by end-September 2009, down 4.6% from 29.2 million at year end 2008...

A new report from Arab Advisors Group analyses and ranks 20 fixed service operators in 15 Arab countries. Key performers are to be found in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Twenty fixed-line operators in 15 Arab countries served 27.8 million fixed-line subscriptions by end-September 2009, down 4.6% from 29.2 million at year end 2008.

The biggest two operators by subscribers in 2008 by subscriber numbers, Telecom Egypt and STC, maintained their leading positions by September 2009. Telecom Egypt and STC recorded 9.631 million and 4.169 million subscribers respectively, while 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 Scorecard of Key Performance Indicators of Fixed Operators in the Arab World was released to Arab Advisors Group Telecoms Strategic Research Service subscribers on February 9, 2010, and can be purchased for US$1,000. The 26-page report, which has 24 detailed figures, provides a comprehensive analysis of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of fixed-voice operators in the Arab region.

The KPIs are for the year 2008 and YTD September 2009. The report covers 19 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

Faten Bader, Senior Research Analyst at Arab Advisors Group, has stated, "With the introduction of fixed wireless services, several Arab countries have liberalised their fixed-line markets. Between October 2008 and December 2009, new fixed licences have been awarded in Bahrain, Libya, Oman and Tunisia."

Danya Nusseir, Senior Research Analyst at Arab Advisors Group, added, "The report revealed that by September 2009 the total number of fixed subscribers to the 20 operators examined in 15 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 to the 20 operators declined by 1.338 million subscribers during the first nine months of 2009."

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.

* Any investment in 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 towards attending Arab Advisors Group's 7^th annual Media and Telecoms Convergence Conference on June 7-8 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman.

more info: www.arabadvisorsgroup.com