The Mediterranean and Levant countries include:- Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. This annual report offers a wealth of information on trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband. Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments
Facts, figures and statistics
Industry and regulatory issues
Research, Marketing, Benchmarking
Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers
VoIP

Executive summary
BuddeComm’s latest Middle East Annual Publication, ‘2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in the Mediterranean and Levant countries of the Middle East’, profiles countries with a wide range of development in their use of telecommunications services. Israel is one of the most advanced telecommunications markets in the world with very high broadband and mobile penetration rates. At the other end of the scale Syria has low mobile and Internet penetration and negligible broadband penetration.

Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Turkey have all benefited greatly from comparatively well developed regulatory systems and competitive markets resulting in strong investment in telecommunications. Syria and Lebanon however have little competition in their markets resulting in a lack of development. This report gives a concise overview of liberalisation and privatisation in the six countries.

Key Highlights
An independent regulatory authority was established in Lebanon in early 2007 after long delays. Plans have been discussed for the privatisation of the mobile operators but will probably require some resolution of the political stalemate before they can be implemented. For more information, see chapter 4.8.2, Page 104.
Turkey’s telecoms regulatory framework has been amended to conform to the EU’s regulatory framework for communications. For more information, see chapter 6.3, page 122.
Israel one of the highest broadband household penetration rates in the world, approaching 70% of households in early 2007. This is due to intense competition, universal service regulations and geographical benefits. For more information, see chapter 2.7.1, page 56.
Lebanon introduced DSL services in May 2007 after a very long wait. The considerable pent up demand should result in fast-growing subscriber numbers if infrastructure can meet demand. For more information, see chapter 4.6.5, page 100.
Jordan has very high mobile penetration for its level of GDP per capital and continues with strong growth. This is the result of ferocious competition between mobile operators. For more information, see chapter 3.9.1, page 85.
A tender for a third Egyptian mobile licence attracted a very high price reflecting the importance of the mobile sector in the region, Egypt’s large population and its relative low penetration rates. With Egypt’s low ARPU levels return on investment will be low for some time. For more information, see chapter 1.9.3.3, page 34.
Israel’s saturated mobile market, achieved without mobile number portability, has caused operators to focus on mobile data as a source of revenue growth. 3G subscriber numbers are increasing but have been slow to take off. For more information, see chapter 2.9.6, page 71.
Mobile penetration and annual growth - 2007

Country Penetration Annual Growth
Egypt 27% 52%
Israel 132% 7%
Jordan 70% 33%
Lebanon 28% 9%
Syria 24% 54%
Turkey 73% 19%


For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Telecoms operators – new licences, acquisitions and competition;
Internet and broadband development and growth;
The fast growing mobile markets of the region;
Mobile application and content developments.

1. EGYPT
1.1 Key statistics
1.2 Telecommunications market
1.2.1 Overview of Egypt’s telecom market
1.3 Regulatory environment
1.3.1 Background
1.3.2 Creation of a new regulatory framework
1.3.3 Legislative reform
1.3.4 Regulatory authority
1.3.5 Telecommunications Master Plan
1.3.6 Telecom sector liberalisation in Egypt
1.3.7 Privatisation of Telecom Egypt
1.3.8 Interconnection
1.4 Fixed network operators in Egypt
1.4.1 Telecom Egypt
1.4.2 Orascom Telecom
1.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
1.5.1 National telecom network
1.5.2 International infrastructure
1.5.3 Fixed voice market
1.6 Data market
1.6.1 Data service operators
1.6.2 VSAT networks
1.6.3 Data centres
1.7 Broadband and Internet market
1.7.1 Overview
1.7.2 Internet gateways
1.7.3 Cairo Regional Internet Exchange (CRIX)
1.7.4 Internet access locations
1.7.5 Egypt’s ISP Market
1.7.6 Broadband overview
1.8 Convergence
1.8.1 VoIP telephony
1.8.2 Next Generation Networks (NGN)
1.8.3 IPTV
1.8.4 E-commerce
1.8.5 Smart Village
1.8.6 Technology incubators
1.8.7 Information Highway Project
1.8.8 E-government
1.8.9 Overview of broadcasting market
1.9 Mobile communications
1.9.1 Overview of Egypt’s mobile market
1.9.2 Regulatory issues
1.9.3 Major mobile operators
1.9.4 Mobile voice services
1.9.5 Mobile data services
1.9.6 Mobile TV
1.9.7 ARPU and AUPU
1.9.8 3G
1.10 Forecasting
1.10.1 Fixed-line market
1.10.2 Broadband and Internet market
1.10.3 Mobile market
2. ISRAEL
2.1 Key statistics
2.2 Telecommunications market
2.2.1 Overview of Israel’s telecom market
2.3 Regulatory environment
2.3.1 Regulatory authority
2.3.2 Privatisation of Bezeq
2.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Israel
2.3.4 Interconnect
2.3.5 Number Portability (NP)
2.3.6 Universal Service Obligation (USO)
2.4 Fixed network operators in Israel
2.4.1 Overview of operators
2.4.2 Bezeq
2.4.3 HOT Telecom
2.4.4 Bezeq International
2.4.5 Internet Gold – Golden Lines / Smile Communications
2.4.6 Barak – Netvision
2.4.7 Xfone 018
2.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
2.5.1 National telecom network
2.5.2 International infrastructure
2.5.3 Infrastructure developments
2.6 Wholesaling
2.6.1 Overview
2.7 Broadband and Internet market
2.7.1 Overview
2.7.2 Israel’s ISP market
2.7.3 Cable modems
2.7.4 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
2.7.5 WiFi
2.7.6 WiMAX
2.7.7 Internet content
2.8 Convergence
2.8.1 Overview of media convergence
2.8.2 Triple play models
2.8.3 VoIP
2.8.4 Digital media
2.9 Mobile communications
2.9.1 Overview of Israel’s mobile market
2.9.2 Regulatory issues
2.9.3 Mobile technologies
2.9.4 Major mobile operators
2.9.5 Mobile voice services
2.9.6 Mobile data services
2.9.7 Mobile content and applications
3. JORDAN
3.1 Key statistics
3.2 Telecommunications market
3.2.1 Overview of Jordan’s telecom market
3.3 Regulatory environment
3.3.1 Background
3.3.2 Regulatory authority
3.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Jordan
3.3.4 Privatisation
3.3.5 Interconnect
3.3.6 Carrier preselection
3.4 Fixed network operators in Jordan
3.4.1 Jordan Telecom
3.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
3.5.1 National telecom network
3.5.2 International infrastructure
3.6 Wholesaling
3.6.1 Access
3.6.2 Jordan Telecom
3.7 Broadband and Internet market
3.7.1 Overview
3.7.2 ISP market
3.7.3 Broadband overview
3.8 Convergence
3.8.1 Overview of media convergence
3.8.2 VoIP
3.8.3 Overview of broadcasting market
3.9 Mobile communications
3.9.1 Overview of Jordan’s mobile market
3.9.2 Regulatory issues
3.9.3 Mobile technologies
3.9.4 Major mobile operators
3.9.5 Mobile voice services
3.9.6 Mobile data services
3.9.7 Mobile content and applications
4. LEBANON
4.1 Key statistics
4.2 Telecommunications market
4.2.1 Overview of Lebanon’s telecom market
4.3 Regulatory environment
4.3.1 Background
4.3.2 Regulatory authority
4.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Lebanon
4.3.4 Privatisation
4.3.5 Interconnect
4.4 Fixed network operator in Lebanon
4.4.1 Ogero Telecom
4.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
4.5.1 National telecom network
4.5.2 International infrastructure
4.6 Broadband and Internet market
4.6.1 Overview
4.6.2 Data service providers
4.6.3 ISP market
4.6.4 Broadband overview
4.6.5 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
4.6.6 Cable modems
4.6.7 Wireless broadband
4.7 Convergence
4.7.1 Overview of media convergence
4.7.2 Triple play
4.7.3 VoIP
4.7.4 Overview of broadcasting market
4.8 Mobile communications
4.8.1 Overview of Lebanon’s mobile market
4.8.2 Regulatory issues
4.8.3 Major mobile operators
4.8.4 Mobile voice services
4.8.5 Mobile data services
5. SYRIA
5.1 Key statistics
5.2 Telecommunications market
5.2.1 Overview of Syria’s telecom market
5.3 Regulatory environment
5.3.1 Background
5.3.2 Regulatory authority
5.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Syria
5.3.4 Interconnect
5.4 Fixed network operator in Syria
5.4.1 Syrian Telecommunication Establishment (STE)
5.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
5.5.1 National telecom network
5.5.2 International infrastructure
5.6 Broadband and Internet market
5.6.1 Overview
5.6.2 ISP market
5.6.3 Broadband overview
5.7 Convergence
5.7.1 Overview of media convergence
5.7.2 Overview of broadcasting market
5.8 Mobile communications
5.8.1 Overview of Syria’s mobile market
5.8.2 Regulatory issues
5.8.3 Mobile technologies
5.8.4 Major mobile operators
5.8.5 Mobile voice services
5.8.6 Mobile data services
6. TURKEY
6.1 Key statistics
6.2 Telecommunications market
6.2.1 Overview of Turkey’s telecom market
6.3 Regulatory environment
6.3.1 Background
6.3.2 Regulatory authority
6.3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation in Turkey
6.3.4 Privatisation
6.3.5 Interconnect
6.3.6 Access
6.3.7 Number portability
6.3.8 Universal services
6.3.9 Electronic Signature Act
6.4 Fixed network operators in Turkey
6.4.1 Turk Telekom
6.4.2 Turksat
6.5 Telecommunications infrastructure
6.5.1 National telecom network
6.5.2 International infrastructure
6.6 Broadband and Internet market
6.6.1 Overview
6.6.2 Turkey’s ISP market
6.6.3 Broadband overview
6.7 Convergence
6.7.1 Triple play models
6.7.2 Overview of broadcasting market
6.7.3 Broadcasting regulation
6.7.4 Digital TV
6.8 Mobile communications
6.8.1 Overview of Turkey’s mobile market
6.8.2 Regulatory issues
6.8.3 Major mobile operators
6.8.4 Mobile voice services in Turkey
6.8.5 Mobile data services
6.8.6 Mobile content and applications
6.9 Forecasting
6.9.1 Broadband market
7. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS


Exhibit 1 – Licences issued – March 2007
Exhibit 2 – National and regional fibre networks
Exhibit 3 – Data service provider licences in Egypt with year of issue
Exhibit 4 – Vodafone Egypt lists on Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange
Exhibit 5 – An analysis of Egypt’s third mobile licence valuation




Table 1 – Country statistics Egypt – 2006
Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – March 2007
Table 3 – Internet provider statistics – 2007
Table 4 – Internet user statistics – March 2007
Table 5 – Mobile statistics – March 2007
Table 6 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 7 – Telecom Egypt key performance indicators – 2003 - 2006
Table 8 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2007
Table 9 – Public payphones per operator – 2002 - 2007
Table 10 – Internet users and penetration – 1995 - 2007
Table 11 – ADSL subscribers in Egypt – 2002 - 2007
Table 12 – Mobile subscribers, penetration and annual growth – 1996 - 2007
Table 13 – Mobile subscribers by operator – March 2007
Table 14 – MobiNil subscribers – 1998 - 2007
Table 15 – MobiNil key performance indicators – 2002 - 2006
Table 16 – Vodafone Egypt subscribers – 1998 - 2007
Table 17 – MobiNil blended monthly ARPU and AUPU – 2004 - 2006
Table 18 – Egypt Fixed-line and fixed-wireless subscriber forecast – 2010; 2015
Table 19 – Egypt Internet user forecast – 2010; 2015
Table 20 – Egypt Broadband subscriber forecast – 2010; 2015
Table 21 – Egypt Mobile subscriber forecast – 2010; 2015
Table 22 – Country statistics Israel – 2006
Table 23 – Telephone network statistics – 2006
Table 24 – Internet user statistics – 2006
Table 25 – Broadband statistics – 2006
Table 26 – Mobile statistics – 2006
Table 27 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 28 – Bezeq divisional revenues – 2005 - 2006
Table 29 – Active Bezeq subscriber lines, MoU, monthly ARPL – 2003 - 2006
Table 30 – HOT Telecom voice subscribers – 2005 - 2006
Table 31 – Fixed-lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2006
Table 32 – Broadband subscribers, annual change and household penetration – 2001 - 2006
Table 33 – Broadband networks: subscribers, annual change and market share – 2005 - 2006
Table 34 – Internet users, penetration and household penetration estimates - 1997 - 2006
Table 35 – ISP market shares – 2005 - 2006
Table 36 – Cable modem subscribers – 2003 - 2006
Table 37 – ADSL subscribers – 2005 - 2006
Table 38 – Walla Communications revenue and profit – 2005 - 2006
Table 39 – Broadcasting market statistical overview - 2006
Table 40 – YES satellite TV subscribers and market share – 2002 - 2006
Table 41 – Mobile subscriber growth and penetration – 1995 - 2006
Table 42 – Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator – December 2006
Table 43 – Mobile operators – total subscribers and market share – December 2006
Table 44 – Mobile operators – MoU and ARPU – 2006
Table 45 – Pelephone: Revenue, Profit, MoU, ARPU – 2003 - 2006
Table 46 – Cellcom – Revenue, profit, MoU, churn, and monthly ARPU – 2005 - 2007
Table 47 – Partner Communications – Revenue, Profit, MoU, Churn, ARPU – 2002 - 2007
Table 48 – Partner – prepaid, postpaid and business subscribers – 2004 - 2007
Table 49 – Partner – data and content revenue – 2004 - 2006
Table 50 – Country statistics Jordan – 2006
Table 51 – Telephone network statistics – 2005
Table 52 – Internet user statistics – 2006
Table 53 – Broadband statistics – 2006
Table 54 – Mobile statistics – 2006
Table 55 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 56 – Jordan Telecom revenue and profit – 2004 - 2006
Table 57 – Jordan Telecom divisional subscribers – 2005 - 2007
Table 58 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2005
Table 59 – Internet user and penetration estimates - 1995 - 2006
Table 60 – Internet subscribers - 1999 - 2006
Table 61 – DSL subscribers - 2001 - 2006
Table 62 – TV market – receivers and households - 1999 - 2006
Table 63 – JRTVC revenue - 2005 - 2006
Table 64 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1995 - 2006
Table 65 – Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator – December 2006
Table 66 – Fastlink ARPU – 2005 - 2006
Table 67 – MobileCom prepaid and postpaid subscribers – 2002 - 2006
Table 68 – Fastlink prepaid and postpaid subscribers – 2005 - 2006
Table 69 – Country statistics Lebanon – 2006
Table 70 – Telephone network statistics – 2006
Table 71 – Internet user statistics – 2006
Table 72 – Broadband statistics – 2006
Table 73 – Mobile statistics – 2006
Table 74 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 75 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1996 - 2006
Table 76 – Internet user and penetration estimates - 1995 - 2006
Table 77 – Internet subscribers - 2001 - 2006
Table 78 – Cable modem Internet subscribers - 2002 - 2006
Table 79 – TV equipped households - 1996 - 2006
Table 80 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1995 - 2006
Table 81 – Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator – December 2006
Table 82 – MTC prepaid and postpaid subscribers – 2005 - 2006
Table 83 – Country statistics Syria – 2006
Table 84 – Telephone network statistics – 2006
Table 85 – Internet user statistics – 2006
Table 86 – Broadband statistics – September 2006
Table 87 – Mobile statistics – 2006
Table 88 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 89 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2006
Table 90 – Internet user and penetration estimates – 1999 - 2006
Table 91 – Broadband and dial-up Internet subscribers – 2004 - 2006
Table 92 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1999 - 2006
Table 93 – Mobile subscribers and annual growth by operator – December 2006
Table 94 – Country statistics Turkey – 2006
Table 95 – Telecoms revenue by service type – 2000 - 2005
Table 96 – Telecoms investment by service type – 2000 - 2005
Table 97 – Telephone network statistics – 2005
Table 98 – Internet provider statistics – 2005
Table 99 – Internet user statistics – 2005
Table 100 – Broadband statistics – March 2006
Table 101 – Mobile statistics – December 2006
Table 102 – National telecommunications authority
Table 103 – Number of operators by service type offered – 2004 - 2005
Table 104 – Turk Telekom tariffs relative to 2002 levels – 2003 - 2006
Table 105 – Fixed lines in service – 1995 - 2005
Table 106 – Internet users - 1996 - 2005
Table 107 – Broadband subscribers by access technology used – March 2006
Table 108 – Broadband penetration – 2001 - 2006
Table 109 – Total ADSL subscribers – 2002 - 2006
Table 110 – Audience share by broadcaster – 2003 - 2006
Table 111 – Audience share by channel – 2005 - 2006
Table 112 – Total ad spending in Turkey and annual change by segment – 2005 - 2006
Table 113 – Total ad spending in Turkey – 2003 - 2006
Table 114 – Dogan Yavin Holding financial statistics and annual change – 2005 - 2006
Table 115 – Mobile subscribers by operator – December 2006
Table 116 – Mobile subscribers - 1995 - 2007
Table 117 – Turkcell financial statistics – 2005 - 2006
Table 118 – Turkcell total subscribers – 2001 - 2007
Table 119 – Turkcell average monthly ARPU – prepaid and postpaid – 2001 - 2006
Table 120 – Turkcell average monthly MOU and churn – 2001 - 2006
Table 121 – Total prepaid subscribers – 2002 - 2005
Table 122 – Turkcell prepaid subscribers – 2001 - 2006
Table 123 – Forecast broadband subscriber growth – stronger market growth scenario – 2007 - 2010; 2015
Table 124 – Forecast broadband subscriber growth – weaker market growth scenario – 2007 - 2010; 2015