40 operators in 16 Arab Countries Commercially Offer 3G/3.5G/3.75G

Amman, Jordan, August 5, 2014--A new report from the Arab Advisors Group provides an analysis of the 3G/3.5G/3.75G services landscape in the Arab World. The research revealed that during the period between November 2011 and May 2014, four more operators deployed 3G networks in the Arab World; increasing the number of operators with 3G/3.5G/3.75G services to forty operators. The most common 3G/3.5G/3.75G service offered by the operators is mobile Internet, followed by video calling and mobile TV. 

By May 2014, sixteen countries in the Arab World had commercial 3G/3.5G/3.75G services. The third generation technology (3G/3.5G/3.75G) allows mobile operators to provide an array of mobile services that require higher speeds. These services include: Local and international video calling, mobile Internet (broadband Internet), mobile TV, video mail, video monitoring, video ringtone and multiplayer gaming.

A new report, “3G/3.5G/3.75G Cellular Services in the Arab World” was released to the Arab Advisors Group’s Telecom Strategic Research Service subscribers in July, 2014. This report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 2,500. The 122-page report, which has 208 detailed exhibits, provides a comparison and overview of the third generation mobile services, rates and offerings in the sixteen Arab countries of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and the UAE.

“The Arab Advisors Group's research shows that there were a total of nine 3G/3.5G/3.75G services in sixteen Arab countries by May 2014. Saudi Arabia’s Mobily and UAE’s Etisalat, with a total of six 3G/3.5G services, had the highest number of 3G/3.5G services among all Arab countries studied in this report. Egypt’s Etisalat, Kuwait’s Zain and Qatar’s Ooredoo came in second with five 3G/3.5G/3.75G services.” Ms Hiba Al-Atiyat, Arab Advisors Research Analyst stated. 

“All 40 3G operators analyzed offer mobile Internet. The local video calling service is offered by 30 operators. Mobile TV follows as the third most common 3G service.” Ms. Joud Hazineh, Arab Advisors research analyst said. “Our research shows that since November 2011, four more operators in the Arab world commercially launched 3G/3.5G/3.75G services.” Ms. Hazineh added.