Press launch Doha, Qatar 6 March 2012 Cosmas Zavazava Chief Project Support and Knowledge Management Department I TU/BDT

2. Press launch Doha, Qatar 6 March 2012 Cosmas Zavazava Chief Project Support and Knowledge Management Department ITU/BDT

3. Main findings • Strong growth in mobile-cellular subscriptions, from 39% penetration in 2006 to almost 100% penetration in 2011 • Relatively low fixed-telephone network and fixed (wired)-broadband uptake • Relatively high fixed-broadband prices • Almost 30% of the population in the region is online • Almost all countries have launched 3G and WiMAX services

4. ICT developments in the Arab region, 2006-2011 • Strong growth in mobile telephony over the last five years, from 39% to 100% penetration • Almost all countries have launched a 3G network • Active mobile-broadband subscriptions have increased from 1% penetration to around 13% • Internet usage penetration has increased from 11% to almost 30% • Fixed (wired)-broadband penetration has increased from 0.3 % to 2.2%

5. ICT developments in the Arab region, 2006-2011Strong growth in mobile-cellular subscriptions … Note: 2011 data are ITU estimates ** Data on fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions exclude WiMAX subscriptions Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database

6. Mobile-cellular penetration (2011) • At the end of 2011, the Arab region reached a very high mobile-cellular penetration: 97% compared to the world average of 87% • There are significant differences in mobile-cellular penetration between GCC countries (173%) and non-GCC countries (76%)

7. Mobile-cellular penetration (2011)Major differences exist within the region Note: 2011 data are ITU estimates Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database

8. Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions • Between 2006 and 2011, fixed (wired) broadband has grown relatively slowly in the Arab region • At the end of 2011, fixed (wired)-broadband penetration stood at 2.2% (8 million subscriptions compared to 1 million in 2006) in the Arab region, compared to almost 5% in the developing world and 8.5% globally • This reflects to some extent the limited fixed network in the region as a whole

9. Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptionsRelatively low uptake of fixed broadband 2011 2006-2011 Note: Data on fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions exclude WiMAX subscriptions; 2011 data are ITU estimates Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database

10. Active mobile-broadband subscriptions • Wireless broadband is growing fast in the region, including the deployment of WiMAX and 3G mobile broadband services • Active mobile-broadband subscriptions (48 million in 2011 compared to 3 million in 2007) in the Arab region reached 13% penetration in 2011 • Comparing with other regions: 8.5% in the developing world, 10.7% in Asia and the Pacific, and 3.8% in Africa

11. Active mobile-broadband subscriptionsFast-growing wireless broadband 2011 2007-2011 Note: 2011 data are ITU estimates Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database • ….

12. WiMAX and 3G licenses in Arab countries, mid-2011 • Strong growth in wireless-broadband uptake is the result of strong increase in operational licenses • Most Arab countries have started to deploy wireless- broadband networks (WiMAX and 3G) • Some of the GCC countries are early adopters (as of 2003) • These are promising developments in view of the relatively low fixed-broadband penetration

13. WiMAX and 3G licenses in Arab countries: mid-2011Wireless-broadband licensing on the rise … Note: *3G services were not available in 2011 Source: ITU, operators, Arab Advisors Group

14. Internet users in the Arab region: 2011 • In the Arab region, 29% of people are currently using the Internet, compared to 35% globally, 26% in developing countries, 27% in Asia-Pacific and 13% in Africa • These numbers are expected to increase with the growth of wireless broadband

15. Internet users in the Arab region, 2011Less than 1 out of 3 people are online Note: 2011 data are ITU estimates ** Commonwealth of Independent States Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database • ….

16. ITU Fixed-broadband sub-basket, 2010 • Strong link between ICT uptake and cost of ICT services • ITU ICT Price Basket shows that average cost of ICT services, and in particular fixed-broadband services, in the Arab region is higher compared to other regions (except Africa) • In 2010, the average price of an entry-level fixed broadband package in the region cost the equivalent of 52% of average monthly GNI per capita • Note: these figures are ofcourse influenced by very high prices in a few of the region’s low-income countries

17. ITU Fixed-broadband sub-basket, 2010Fixed broadband is still relatively expensive for the user • …. Source: ITU

18. Concluding remarks • Integrate ICT strategies into overall national economic development plans and establish concrete targets to monitor progress • Continue to promote a transparent and predictable regulatory environment to foster investment and competition in the sector • Increase investment in fixed infrastructure • Leverage on wireless technologies to increase broadband Internet access • Make broadband more affordable in line with Broadband Commission target 2 (i.e. to cost less than 5% of average monthly GNI per capita by 2015).

19. For further information: indicators[at]itu.int The report will be available at: www.itu.int/ict