Kuwaits telecoms market is a contrast between a highly regularised and non-liberalised fixed-line sector, where few markets have seen less regulatory change, and the dynamic mobile sector. This has resulted in low fixed-line and Internet penetration but a highly developed mobile market. Kuwait was early to liberalise its mobile sector. It has two strong operators, who are expanding aggressively internationally to compete on a global scale and are also developing advanced networks and mobile applications. A third mobile licence is also planned. This report outlines these contrasting market sectors, together with appropriate statistics. It should be noted however that up to date statistics (outside the mobile sector) are rare for Kuwait and it has been necessary to estimate in some cases. In addition, population statistics, as in many of the Gulf countries, are inexact due to the high expatriate labouring population, causing problems with penetration statistics.
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| 1. | | Synopsis |
| 2. | | Key statistics |
| 3. | | Telecommunications market |
| 3.1 | | Overview of Kuwaits telecom market |
| 4. | | Regulatory environment |
| 4.1 | | Background |
| 4.2 | | Regulatory authority |
| 4.3 | | Privatisation of Mobile Telecommunications Co |
| 5. | | Fixed network operator in Kuwait |
| 5.1 | | Ministry of Communications |
| 6. | | Telecommunications infrastructure |
| 6.1 | | National telecom network |
| 6.2 | | International infrastructure |
| 6.2.1 | | Submarine cable networks |
| 6.2.2 | | Satellite networks |
| 6.3 | | Infrastructure developments |
| 6.3.1 | | Next Generation Networks (NGN) |
| 7. | | Broadband and Internet market |
| 7.1 | | Overview |
| 7.1.1 | | Internet statistics |
| 7.2 | | ISP market |
| 7.3 | | ADSL |
| 7.4 | | Wireless broadband |
| 7.4.1 | | WiFi |
| 7.4.2 | | WiMAX |
| 7.4.3 | | Internet via satellite |
| 8. | | Convergence |
| 8.1 | | Overview of media convergence |
| 8.2 | | VoIP |
| 8.3 | | Overview of broadcasting market |
| 8.3.1 | | Showtime |
| 9. | | Mobile communications |
| 9.1 | | Overview of Kuwaits mobile market |
| 9.1.1 | | Mobile statistics |
| 9.2 | | Regulatory issues |
| 9.2.1 | | Third mobile operator |
| 9.2.2 | | Background |
| 9.3 | | Mobile technologies |
| 9.3.1 | | Analogue |
| 9.3.2 | | Digital |
| 9.3.3 | | Third Generation mobile (3G) |
| 9.4 | | Major mobile operators |
| 9.4.1 | | MTC-Vodafone (Mobile Telecommunications Company) |
| 9.4.2 | | National Mobile Telecommunication Co (NMT) / Wataniya Telecom |
| 9.5 | | Mobile voice services |
| 9.5.1 | | Prepaid |
| 9.5.2 | | Satellite mobile |
| 9.6 | | Mobile data services |
| 9.6.1 | | Short Message Service (SMS) |
| 9.6.2 | | Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) |
| 9.6.3 | | Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) |
| 9.6.4 | | General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) |
| 9.6.5 | | Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) |
| 9.6.6 | | Push-to-talk (PTT) |
| 9.6.7 | | Blackberry |
| 9.6.8 | | Mobile TV |
| 9.7 | | Mobile content and applications |
| 10. | | Related reports |
Table 1 Country statistics 2006 |
| Table 2 Telephone network statistics 2006 |
| Table 3 Internet user statistics 2006 |
| Table 4 Broadband statistics 2006 |
| Table 5 Mobile statistics 2006 |
| Table 6 National telecommunications authorities |
| Table 7 Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006 |
| Table 8 Internet user and penetration estimates - 1995 - 2006 |
| Table 9 Internet subscribers - 2003 - 2006 |
| Table 10 Broadband DSL subscribers - 2001 - 2006 |
| Table 11 TV market TVs and satellites - 2000 - 2006 |
| Table 12 Mobile subscribers - 1994 - 2006 |
| Table 13 Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator December 2006 |
| Table 14 Mobile operator market share 2005 - 2006 |
| Table 15 MTC Group subscribers, revenue and profit - 2004 - 2007 |
| Table 16 MTC Kuwait Revenue and ARPU 2005 - 2006 |
| Table 17 Wataniya Group subscribers, revenue and profit - 2005 - 2006 |
| Table 18 Wataniya Kuwait ARPU: post paid, prepaid and weighted average 2005 - 2006 |
| Table 19 MTC Prepaid subscribers 2005 - 2006 |
