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 3

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% 4

5. ICT developments in the Arab region, 2006-2011 Strong growth in mobile-cellular subscriptions 5 … 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%) 6

7. Mobile-cellular penetration (2011) Major differences exist within the region 7 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 8

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

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 10

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

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 12

13. WiMAX and 3G licenses in Arab countries: mid-2011 Wireless-broadband licensing on the rise 13 … 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 14

15. Internet users in the Arab region, 2011 Less than 1 out of 3 people are online 15  …. 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 16

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

18. 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. 19 For further information: indicators[at]itu.int The report will be available at: www.itu.int/ict