Perspectives on international communications in the Mediterranean basin IGU Mediterranean Renaissance Program (MRP) Workshop Rome, February 2009

Question What is the geographical pattern of international telecommunications in the Mediterranean basin? Can the Mediterranean basin be considered a single, well-integrated, information space?

National information societies National information societies are growingly based on the adoption and use of information technologies in all spheres of life, leading to: enhanced interpersonal communications; extended uses of information; and an increasing production of knowledge.

National information societies: Measurement levels of IT adoption and use National: Comparative national measures (e.g. mobile telephones per population). National: Comparative national measures (e.g. mobile telephones per population). Intra-national: Interregional digital divide or digital gap (e.g. Internet penetration by region). Intra-national: Interregional digital divide or digital gap (e.g. Internet penetration by region). International: International information interaction (e.g. telephone calls to other countries). International: International information interaction (e.g. telephone calls to other countries).

Data Complex patterns of international communications with the introduction of , mobile telephony and VoIP. Complex patterns of international communications with the introduction of , mobile telephony and VoIP. Data on common-carrier fixed- line communications collected by Telegeography. Data on common-carrier fixed- line communications collected by Telegeography.

Possible patterns for international telecommunications Call destinations Pattern Neighboring countries Traditional (T) G8 countries Global (G) Wide selection of countries Contemporary (C) Neighboring and G8 countries Mixed (M)

Possible patterns for intl. telecom. in the Mediterranean basin Geog. Med. pattern Call destinations Call pattern 1. Adjacency 2. One-way cross sea So. To No., Ea. to We. Neighboring countries Traditional (T) G8 countries Global (G) Two-way cross sea Wide selection of countries Contemporary (C) Neighboring and G8 countries Mixed (M)

Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of total minutes) (Telegeography, 97/98; 2007) Country GR (25.0); UK (23.5); RU (5.2) UK (25.3); GR (23.9); RU (5.0) Cyprus (T) UK (7.4); MO (7.2); DE (6.8) DE (11.0); UK (10.9); IT (8.6) France(T=>C) AL (14.9); DE (12.6); UK (12.3) DE (17.4); UK (13.8); IT (8.9) Greece (G =>M) DE (9.0); FR (7.9); UK (5.3) DE (16.8); FR (11.8); US (9.1) Italy (G =>M) UK (11.3); DE (10.5); FR (9.4) DE (15.7); FR (15.4); UK (14.3) Spain (T) DE (30.4); UK (9.7); US (5.7) DE (33.5); UK (8.5); US (5.9) Turkey (G)

Euro-Med. countries: trends In 1996 only two patterns (T and G); in 2006 all four: change in 3 out of 6 countries. In 1996 only two patterns (T and G); in 2006 all four: change in 3 out of 6 countries. Early international Mediterranean ties emerge (France and Greece). Early international Mediterranean ties emerge (France and Greece). Immigration and tourism as reshaping forces of international communications ties. Immigration and tourism as reshaping forces of international communications ties.

Non Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of total minutes) (Telegeography, 97/98; 2007) Country SA (25.6); US (11.0); AE (9.0) (M) SA (15.7); US (10.8); UK (10.7) (M) Egypt (1998) US (26.3); UK (7.6); RU (6.0) (G) US (32.4); UK (9.1); CA (7.4) (G) Israel N/A FR (44.3); ES (9.5); IT (5.7) (G) Morocco (1998) LB (39.5); SA (21.0); AE (10.2) (T) LB (26.0); SA (15.6); AE (6.6) (T) Syria (1997; 2005)

Non-Euro-Med. countries: trends More complex macro trends. More complex macro trends. The role of culture. The role of culture. Changing patterns? Changing patterns?

Conclusion International telephone calls through common carriers: From dominance to sharing with other channels/media. International telephone calls through common carriers: From dominance to sharing with other channels/media. Lack of data. Lack of data. A division of the Med. basin into EU and non-EU countries? A division of the Med. basin into EU and non-EU countries?