Middle East - Mobile Infrastructure and Mobile Broadband

Description

The Middle East - Mobile Infrastructure and Mobile Broadband report includes all relevant BuddeComm research data and analysis. Covering trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, internet, broadband, infrastructure and regulation. Please review the Executive Summary and Table of Contents for more details.

Middle East states' expansion of 5G showing variable results

Mobile infrastructure in the Middle East has by far the highest population coverage compared to fixed broadband and the region is highly dependent on mobile services. In times of crisis, the ability to remain connected becomes even more essential to society and the economy in general.

This reliance on telecommunications infrastructure and services has been highlighted throughout the world during the COVID-19 outbreak, including in the Middle East where many countries have required citizens to shelter-at-home. This has placed increased demand on telecoms infrastructure with people working and studying remotely. The operators have experienced a surge in demand for bandwidth and this, in turn, has led to a renewed push to either upgrade 4G networks or fast-track 5G developments.

In order to roll-out new networks efficiently and in a cost effective manner, BuddeComm observes that many operators in the Middle East are beginning to utilise the benefits of infrastructure sharing. Mobile tower sharing, for example, has become a viable strategy in countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman.

This BuddeComm report provides valuable information, analyses, statistics and insights into the mobile infrastructure in markets of the Middle East, including the countries of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Recent developments:

Investing in 4G LTE networks is a key area of focus in the Middle East.

Many existing 4G networks are being upgraded in both preparation for 5G and to also meet the demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By 2025 the market share of connections to smart phones will reach almost 75% across the larger MENA region, according to the GSMA.

Companies mentioned in this report include:

Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC) / Zain, Ooredoo Kuwait (previously National Mobile Telecommunication Co (NMT) / Wataniya Telecom), Kuwait Telecom Company (KTC) / Viva, Batelco, Zain Bahrain, Viva Bahrain, Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI), Mobile Communications Iran (MCI), MTN Irancell, Tamin Telecom (Rightel), Mobile Telecommunications Company of Isfahan (MTCE), Telecommunication Kish Company (TKC), Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC), Asiacell, Zain Iraq, Korek Telecom, Regional Telecom, Cellcom, Orange (Partner), Pelephone (Bezeq), HOT Mobile, Golan Telecom, Rami Levy, Jordan Telecom Group/Orange, Zain Jordan, Batelco/Umniah, Saudi Telecom Company (STC)/Bravo, Integrated Telecom Company (ITC)/Bayn Consortium, GO Telecom/Etihad Atheeb, Mobily/Ettihad Etisalat/Bayanat Al-Oula, Zain KSA, Lebara KSA/Etihad Jawraa, Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (Virgin Mobile MEA), Axiom Telecom, VIVA, Etisalat, du, Jordan Telecom Group/Orange, Zain Jordan, Batelco/Umniah, MTC Touch, Alfa Telecom, Ooredoo Qatar, Vodafone Qatar, OmanTel, Ooredoo Oman, FRiENDi, Majan Telecom (Renna), Samatel, Syrian Telecommunication Establishment (STE), MTN Syria, Syriatel, Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, Avea.

1 Regional market comparison

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Infrastructure sharing
1.3 Mobile broadband infrastructure coverage
1.4 Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
1.5 Mobile subscriber statistics

2 Countries leading 5G developments

2.1 United Arab Emirates
2.2 Qatar
2.3 Saudi Arabia

3 Bahrain

3.1 Market Analysis
3.2 Regulatory environment
3.3 Mobile Market analysis
3.4 Mobile statistics
3.5 Mobile infrastructure

4 Iran

4.1 Market analysis
4.2 Background to alleged sanction violations
4.3 Regulatory environment
4.4 Mobile Market analysis
4.5 Mobile statistics
4.6 Mobile infrastructure
4.7 Mobile broadband
4.8 Mobile content and applications

5 Iraq

5.1 Market overview
5.2 Regulatory environment
5.3 Mobile Market analysis
5.4 Mobile infrastructure

6 Israel

6.1 Market analysis
6.2 Regulatory authority
6.3 Mobile network developments
6.4 Mobile Market analysis
6.5 Mobile statistics
6.6 Mobile infrastructure

7 Jordan

7.1 Market overview
7.2 Market analysis
7.3 Regulatory environment
7.4 Mobile market developments
7.5 Mobile statistics
7.6 Mobile infrastructure

8 Kuwait

8.1 Market analysis
8.2 Competitive environment
8.3 Regulatory environment
8.4 Mobile network developments
8.5 Mobile Market analysis
8.6 Mobile statistics
8.7 Mobile infrastructure
8.8 Mobile content and applications

9 Lebanon

9.1 Historical overview
9.2 Market overview
9.3 Regulatory environment
9.4 Mobile Market overview
9.5 Mobile statistics
9.6 Mobile infrastructure

10 Oman

10.1 Market overview
10.2 Oman Vision 2040
10.3 Regulatory environment
10.4 Mobile market analysis
10.5 Mobile statistics
10.6 Mobile infrastructure

11 Qatar

11.1 Market analysis
11.2 Regulatory environment
11.3 Mobile network developments
11.4 Mobile Market analysis
11.5 Mobile statistics
11.6 Mobile infrastructure
11.7 Mobile content and applications

12 Saudi Arabia

12.1 Historic overview
12.2 Regulatory authority
12.3 Telecom sector liberalisation
12.4 Mobile network developments
12.5 Mobile market analysis
12.6 Mobile statistics
12.7 Mobile infrastructure
12.8 Mobile content and applications

13 Syria

13.1 Historical overview
13.2 Market analysis
13.3 Market challenges
13.4 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)
13.5 Regulatory environment
13.6 Mobile Market analysis
13.7 Mobile statistics
13.8 Mobile infrastructure

14 Turkey

14.1 Market analysis
14.2 Regulatory environment
14.3 Mobile market analysis
14.4 Mobile statistics
14.5 Mobile infrastructure
14.6 Mobile content and applications

15 United Arab Emirates

15.1 Historical overview
15.2 Market analysis
15.3 Abraham Accords Peace Agreement
15.4 Regulatory environment
15.5 Mobile Market analysis
15.6 Mobile statistics
15.7 Mobile infrastructure
15.8 Mobile broadband
15.9 Mobile content and applications

16 Yemen

16.1 Market overview
16.2 Key industry considerations
16.3 Regulatory environment
16.4 MObile Market overview
16.5 Mobile statistics
16.6 Mobile infrastructure
Table 1 Middle East 3G and 4G - mobile infrastructure and population coverage 2014 - 2018
Table 2 Middle East - mobile subscriptions and annual growth 2014 - 2020
Table 3 Middle East - mobile subscriptions by country 2014 - 2020
Table 4 Bahrain - telecom sector revenue 2012 2020
Table 5 Bahrain - telecom sector proportion of total revenue 2013 2020
Table 6 Bahrain - mobile sector ARPU 2013 2020
Table 7 Bahrain Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2012 2021
Table 8 Bahrain Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 2027
Table 9 Bahrain Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers - 2012 2021
Table 10 Bahrain Development of retail mobile market revenue 2012 2020
Table 11 Bahrain Change in mobile ARPS (BHD) 2012 2020
Table 12 Bahrain Mobile market share by operators 2018 2021
Table 13 Bahrain Mobile voice traffic 2014 2021
Table 14 Bahrain Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 15 Bahrain Mobile broadband market share by operators 2019 2021
Table 16 Bahrain Mobile broadband traffic 2015 2021
Table 17 Bahrain Growth in the number of M2M connections - 2019 2021
Table 18 Iran Change in the number of mobile number portings 2016 2019
Table 19 Iran Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 20 Iran Growth in the number of M2M SIM cards 2014 2019
Table 21 Iran Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2013 2027
Table 22 Iraq Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 23 Iraq Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2014 2027
Table 24 Israel Major mobile operators' monthly mobile ARPU (ILS / month) 2013 2021
Table 25 Israel Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 26 Israel Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriber and penetration 2012 2027
Table 27 Israel Market share of mobile subscribers by technology 2019 2025
Table 28 Jordan Change in the number of telecom financial data (JOD million) 2012 2020
Table 29 Jordan Development of telecom revenue by sector (JOD million) 2012 2020
Table 30 Jordan Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 31 Jordan Change in the number of mobile subscribers by type (million) 2012 2021
Table 32 Jordan Change in the proportion of mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
Table 33 Jordan Mobile voice and SMS traffic 2020 2021
Table 34 Jordan Average monthly mobile voice and SMS traffic per subscriber 2020 2021
Table 35 Jordan Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions 2012 2027
Table 36 Kuwait Development of telecom sector revenue (KWD million) 2017 2019
Table 37 Kuwait Development of telecom sector investment 2017 2019
Table 38 Kuwait Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 39 Kuwait Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers (million) 2015 2019
Table 40 Kuwait Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Table 41 Kuwait Development of mobile voice and SMS traffic 2015 2019
Table 42 Kuwait Change in the population coverage of mobile technologies 2016 2020
Table 43 Kuwait Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2013 2027
Table 44 Lebanon Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 45 Lebanon Change in mobile operator market share 2012 2020
Table 46 Lebanon Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2027
Table 47 Oman Change in the number of mobile number portings 2012 2019
Table 48 Oman Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 49 Oman Development of mobile ARPU 2012 2021
Table 50 Oman Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Table 51 Oman Development of domestic mobile voice traffic 2012 2021
Table 52 Oman Development of mobile and wholesale mobile revenue 2012 2021
Table 53 Oman Change in the number of prepaid and post-paid subscribers (million) 2012 2021
Table 54 Oman Change in the number of SMS messages 2012 2020
Table 55 Oman Change in the number of MMS messages 2012 2020
Table 56 Oman Change in mobile ARPU 2018 2021
Table 57 Oman Development of domestic mobile data traffic 2012 2021
Table 58 Oman Change in average mobile data use per subscriber 2018 2021
Table 59 Oman Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 60 Oman Change in the number of mobile towers by platform 2015 2021
Table 61 Oman Growth in the number of M2M mobile connections 2013 2021
Table 62 Qatar Development of telecom revenue 2012 2021
Table 4 Qatar Development of telecom revenue by operator (QAR million) 2016 2021
Table 63 Qatar Development of telecom investment (QAR billion) 2015 2020
Table 64 Qatar Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2013 2019
Table 65 Qatar Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 66 Qatar Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Table 67 Qatar Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2013 2021
Table 68 Qatar Growth in number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 69 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2012 2019
Table 70 Saudi Arabia Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 71 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers (million) 2012 2019
Table 72 Saudi Arabia Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2018
Table 73 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers 2012 2019
Table 74 Saudi Arabia Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 75 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by type (million) 2015 2019
Table 76 Syria Growth in telecom revenue (SYP billion) 2012 2019
Table 77 Syria Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 78 Syria Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 79 Turkey Development of telecom revenue and investment (TRY million) 2012 2021
Table 80 Turkey Change in fixed and mobile voice traffic (billion minutes) 2012 2021
Table 81 Turkey Change in the number of mobile number portings 2012 2021
Table 82 Turkey Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2012 2027
Table 83 Turkey Change in number of prepaid and postpaid subscribers (million) 2012 2021
Table 84 Turkey Change in the ratio of prepaid to contract subscribers 2012 2021
Table 85 Turkey Change in number of mobile subscribers by platform (million) 2012 2021
Table 86 Turkey Growth in the number of M2M connections 2012 2021
Table 87 Turkey Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration 2012 2027
Table 88 Turkey Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by type (million) 2012 2021
Table 89 Change in UAE's telecom revenue by service (AED billion) 2012 2019
Table 90 UAE Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2014 2019
Table 91 UAE Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 92 UAE Change in the number and proportion of prepaid mobile subscribers 2012 2021
Table 93 UAE Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 94 Yemen Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 95 Yemen Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 1 Middle East mobile subscriber and mobile broadband penetration - 2018
Chart 2 Bahrain - telecom sector revenue 2012 2020
Chart 3 Bahrain Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2012 2021
Chart 4 Bahrain Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 2027
Chart 5 Bahrain Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers - 2012 2021
Chart 6 Bahrain Development of retail mobile market revenue 2012 2020
Chart 7 Bahrain Change in mobile ARPS 2012 2020
Chart 8 Bahrain Mobile market share by operators 2018 2021
Chart 9 Bahrain Mobile voice traffic 2014 2021
Chart 10 Bahrain Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 11 Bahrain Mobile broadband market share by operators 2019 2021
Chart 12 Bahrain Mobile broadband traffic 2015 2021
Chart 13 Bahrain Growth in the number of M2M connections - 2019 2021
Chart 14 Iran Change in the number of mobile number portings 2016 2019
Chart 15 Iran Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 16 Iran Growth in the number of M2M SIM cards 2014 2019
Chart 17 Iran - mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration 2013 2027
Chart 18 Iraq Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 19 Iraq Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2014 2027
Chart 20 Israel Major mobile operators' monthly mobile ARPU (ILS / month) 2013 2021
Chart 21 Israel Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 22 Israel Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriber and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 23 Jordan Change in the number of telecom financial data 2012 2020
Chart 24 Jordan Development of telecom revenue by sector 2012 2020
Chart 25 Jordan Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 26 Jordan Change in the number of mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
Chart 27 Jordan Change in the proportion of mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
Chart 28 Jordan Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions 2012 2027
Chart 29 Kuwait Development of telecom sector revenue 2017 2019
Chart 30 Kuwait Development of telecom sector Investment 2017 2019
Chart 31 Kuwait Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 32 Kuwait Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers 2015 2019
Chart 33 Kuwait Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Chart 34 Kuwait Development of mobile voice and SMS traffic 2015 2019
Chart 35 Kuwait Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2013 2027
Chart 36 Lebanon Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 37 Lebanon Change in mobile operator market share 2012 2020
Chart 38 Lebanon Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2027
Chart 39 Oman Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 40 Oman Development of mobile ARPU 2012 2021
Chart 41 Oman Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Chart 42 Oman Development of domestic mobile voice traffic 2012 2021
Chart 43 Oman Development of mobile and wholesale mobile revenue 2012 2021

Chart 44 - Oman Change in the number of prepaid and post-paid subscribers 2012 2021

Chart 45 Oman Development of domestic mobile data traffic 2012 2021
Chart 46 Oman Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 47 Oman Change in the number of mobile towers by platform 2015 2021
Chart 48 Qatar Development of telecom revenue 2012 2021
Chart 49 Qatar Development of telecom revenue by operator 2016 2021
Chart 50 Qatar Development of telecom investment 2015 2020
Chart 51 Qatar Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2013 2019
Chart 52 Qatar Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 53 Qatar Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
Chart 54 Qatar Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2013 2021
Chart 55 Qatar Growth in number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 56 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2012 2019
Chart 57 Saudi Arabia Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 58 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2012 2019
Chart 59 Saudi Arabia Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2018
Chart 60 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers 2012 2019
Chart 61 Saudi Arabia Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 62 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by type 2015 2019
Chart 63 Syria Growth in telecom revenue 2012 2019
Chart 64 Syria Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 65 Syria Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 66 Turkey Development of telecom revenue and investment 2012 2021
Chart 67 Turkey Change in fixed and mobile voice traffic 2012 2021
Chart 68 Turkey Change in the number of mobile number portings 2012 2021
Chart 69 Turkey Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2012 2027
Chart 70 Turkey Change in number of prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 71 Turkey Change in the ratio of prepaid to contract subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 72 Turkey Change in number of mobile subscribers by platform 2012 2021
Chart 73 Turkey Growth in the number of M2M connections 2012 2021
Chart 74 Turkey Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 75 Turkey Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by type 2012 2021
Chart 76 Change in UAE's telecom revenue by service 2012 2019
Chart 77 UAE Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2014 2019
Chart 78 UAE Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 79 UAE Change in the number and proportion of prepaid mobile subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 80 UAE Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 81 Yemen Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 82 Yemen Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Exhibit 1 Bahrain's licensed telcos and services
Exhibit 2 Iran Privatisation of TCI
Exhibit 3 Israel 5G spectrum auction results August 2020
Exhibit 4 Kuwait Spectrum concessions by licensee 2021
Exhibit 5 Telecom Services Providers in Oman Dec 2020