Middle East Communications
* Experts in the telecommunication industry estimate that the Gulf Cooperative Council countires (GCC- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) would need to invest a minimum of $30 billion to reach its full potential in the region.
* It is estimated that 25% of the infrastructure budgets for the GCC will be spent on the telecommunication industry.
* $70 billion annual revenue by 2015 is expected to be generated from the telecommunicatons and broadband internet sectors in the Middle East and North Africa region [reported by Madar Research.
Regional Market Drivers:
* Mobile market subscribers size in the region is approximately 85 million.
* Saudi Arabia's telecom sector is expected to continue to grow at an annual rate of 20% in the coming three years.
* Egypt has the largest PSTN subsriber base of 10.4 million.
* Saudi Arabia has the highest annual PSTN revenue of US$2.17billion.
* Qatar has the highest ARPU - PSTN at US$77.6 and mobile at US$69.
* UAE has highest PSTN penetration regionally at 27%.
* Bahrain has mobile penetration of 105.8%.
* Jordan's four cellular operators served more than four million subscribers by end 2006.
* Oman's cellular market grew 26% in the first nine months of 2006 and Qatar's by 19%.
* Syria's total GSM revenue rached US$900 million in 2005.
* Spurred by residential demand, Palestine's Paltels's ADSL grew by 266% in 2006 .
* Al Jawal from Saudi Arabia has the largest mobile subscriber base at 11.8 million and the highest mobile revenue (US$6.27 billion).
* Total mobile subscriber base in Saudi Arabia is 14.15 million.
* Internet penetratin and ADSL subscription is also on the rise regionally.
| Companies interested in exhibiting in the U.S. Pavilion should contact: | |
|---|---|
| Show Organizer | U.S. Commercial Service |
|
IIR Middle East Email: David Hirst |
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Dubai, U.A.E. |