The Middle East - Mobile Network Operators and MVNOs report includes all relevant BuddeComm research data and analysis. Covering trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, internet, broadband, infrastructure and regulation. Please review the Executive Summary and Table of Contents for more details.
Middle East's mobile operators step up network investment
Mobile operators across the Middle East have faced extraordinary challenges since 2020, with the pandemic having impacted on most facets of mobile services and operations. The operators have had to quickly meet the increased demand for online communication and Internet services, stemming from citizens working and studying remotely, along with supporting service providers offering tele-health and e-education solutions.
In Saudi Arabia, for example, the MNOs have demonstrated a keen sense of social responsibility during the pandemic by launching various initiatives to support society in terms of education, enterprise, and healthcare. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Royal Philips (a healthcare solution provider) worked together to develop and implement solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) which allow doctors to treat and diagnose patients remotely.
Many of the operators have observed a change in consumer behaviour during the pandemic, with Du from the United Arab Emirates, for example, experiencing a decline in mobile revenues which was partly attributed to a shift by consumers towards pre-paid mobile phones rather than fixed contracts, in order to manage personal budgets throughout the crisis. Revenues from roaming services have also been impacted upon with less travel and movement by citizens.
Despite the acute disruption to the Telcos usual business operations; a number of the operators have continued to work on their original strategic plans for 2020 and while progress towards 5G may have slowed, it is still a key priority for many of the operators across the Middle East.
This report provides valuable information, analyses, and statistics into the mobile operators in markets of the Middle East and includes the countries of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Recent developments:
Some operators experienced a decline in roaming revenue due to the impact of the pandemic.
Countries in the region have seen an increased demand for tele-health and e-education services, as well as collaboration with mobile operators to deliver such services.
Many mobile operators in the Middle East have formed partnerships in order to develop and progress 5G readiness.
Companies mentioned in this report include:
Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC) / Zain, Ooredoo Kuwait (previously National Mobile Telecommunication Co (NMT) / Wataniya Telecom), Kuwait Telecom Company (KTC) / Viva, Batelco, Zain Bahrain, Viva Bahrain, Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI), Mobile Communications Iran (MCI), MTN Irancell, Tamin Telecom (Rightel), Mobile Telecommunications Company of Isfahan (MTCE), Telecommunication Kish Company (TKC), Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC), Asiacell, Zain Iraq, Korek Telecom, Regional Telecom, Cellcom, Orange (Partner), Pelephone (Bezeq), HOT Mobile, Golan Telecom, Rami Levy, Jordan Telecom Group/Orange, Zain Jordan, Batelco/Umniah, Saudi Telecom Company (STC)/Bravo, Integrated Telecom Company (ITC)/Bayn Consortium, GO Telecom/Etihad Atheeb, Mobily/Ettihad Etisalat/Bayanat Al-Oula, Zain KSA, Lebara KSA/Etihad Jawraa, Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (Virgin Mobile MEA), Axiom Telecom, VIVA, Etisalat, du, Jordan Telecom Group/Orange, Zain Jordan, Batelco/Umniah, MTC Touch, Alfa Telecom, Ooredoo Qatar, Vodafone Qatar, OmanTel, Ooredoo Oman, FRiENDi, Majan Telecom (Renna), Samatel, Syrian Telecommunication Establishment (STE), MTN Syria, Syriatel, Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, Avea.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Regional mobile overview
- 1.1 Middle East country summary
2 Regional mobile statistics
- 2.1 Middle East mobile subscriber growth
- 2.2 Middle East mobile data and smartphone growth
- 2.3 Middle East major operators and subscribers
3 Bahrain
- 3.1 Market analysis
- 3.2 Mobile network developments
- 3.3 Operator statistics
- 3.4 Major mobile operators
4 Iran
- 4.1 Market analysis
- 4.2 Mobile network developments
- 4.3 Major mobile operators
5 Iraq
- 5.1 Market analysis
- 5.2 Mobile network developments
- 5.3 operator statistics
- 5.4 Major mobile operators
6 Israel
- 6.1 Market analysis
- 6.2 Mobile network developments
- 6.3 Major mobile operators
- 6.4 MVNOs
7 Jordan
- 7.1 Market Analysis
- 7.2 Mobile market developments
- 7.3 Major mobile operators
8 Kuwait
- 8.1 Market analysis
- 8.2 Mobile network developments
- 8.3 Operator statistics
- 8.4 Major mobile operators
9 Lebanon
- 9.1 Market overview
- 9.2 Mobile network developments
- 9.3 Operator statistics
- 9.4 Major mobile operators
10 Oman
- 10.1 Mobile analysis
- 10.2 Mobile network developments
- 10.3 Operator statistics
- 10.4 Major mobile operators
11 Qatar
- 11.1 Market analysis
- 11.2 Mobile network developments
- 11.3 Operator statistics
- 11.4 Major mobile operators
12 Saudi Arabia
- 12.1 Market analysis
- 12.2 Mobile network developments
- 12.3 Operator statistics
- 12.4 Major mobile operators
13 Syria
- 13.1 Market analysis
- 13.2 Mobile network developments
- 13.3 Major mobile operators
14 Turkey
- 14.1 Market analysis
- 14.2 Mobile network developments
- 14.3 Major mobile operators
15 United Arab Emirates
- 15.1 Market analysis
- 15.2 Mobile market developments
- 15.3 Major mobile operators
16 Yemen
- 16.1 Market overview
- 16.2 Mobile network developments
- 16.3 Major mobile operators
- Table 1 Middle East mobile market country profiles - 2019
- Table 2 Middle East - mobile subscriptions and annual growth 2014 - 2020
- Table 3 Zain Bahrain mobile data market share of total revenue 2015 2019
- Table 4 Middle East - mobile smartphone adoption growth 2017; 2020
- Table 5 Middle East Major domestic operators by subscribers 2014 - 2019
- Table 6 Middle East international mobile operators by subscribers 2014 - 2019
- Table 7 Bahrain Mobile market share by operators 2018 2021
- Table 8 Development of Batelco Bahrain's revenue by segment (BHD million) 2017 2021
- Table 9 Change in the number of Batelco Group's mobile subscribers 2012 2019
- Table 10 Development of Zain Bahrain's financial data ($ million) - 2012 2021
- Table 11 Zain Bahrain's mobile data revenue share of total revenue 2015 2021
- Table 12 Change in the number of Zain Bahrain's mobile subscribers - 2012 2019
- Table 13 Development of Zain Bahrain's mobile ARPU - 2012 2021
- Table 14 Development of MTN Irancell's financial data (ZAR million) 2015 2021
- Table 15 Development of MTN Irancell's revenue and EBITDA (IRR billion) 2016 2021
- Table 16 Change in the number of MTN Irancell's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 17 Change in MTN Irancell's mobile ARPU ($) 2012 2021
- Table 18 Change in MTN Irancell's mobile ARPU (IRR) 2012 2021
- Table 19 Change in MTN Irancell's mobile traffic 2012 2021
- Table 20 Iraq Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator 2012 2020
- Table 21 Iraq Development of Asiacell's financial data (QAR billion) 2012 2021
- Table 22 Iraq Development of Asiacell's financial data (IQD billion) 2012 2021
- Table 23 Iraq Change in the number of Asiacell's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 24 Iraq Development of Asiacell's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 25 Development of Zain Iraq's financial data ($ billion) 2012 2021
- Table 26 Development of Zain Iraq's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 27 Change in the number of Zain Iraq's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 28 Zain Iraq's mobile prepaid and postpaid subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 29 Change in the market share of Zain Iraq's prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 30 Change in Zain Iraq's average mobile data traffic 2012 2020
- Table 31 Iraq Change in the number of Korek Telecom's mobile subscribers 2013 2020
- Table 32 Israel Major mobile operators' monthly mobile ARPU (ILS / month) 2013 2021
- Table 33 Israel Development of Cellcom's consolidated financial data ILS billion) 2012 2021
- Table 34 Israel Development of Cellcom's consolidated EBITDA , capex (ILS billion) 2012 2021
- Table 35 Israel Change in the number of Cellcom's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 36 Israel Decline in Cellcom's annual churn rate 2012 2021
- Table 37 Israel Development of Partner's financial data (ILS million) 2012 2021
- Table 38 Israel Change in the number of Partner's mobile subscribers and churn rate 2012 2021
- Table 39 Israel Decline in Pelephone's mobile revenue 2012 2021
- Table 40 Israel Change in the number of Pelephone's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 41 Israel Change in the number of Pelephone's contract and prepaid subscribers (million) 2014 2021
- Table 42 Israel Change in Pelephone's annual churn rate 2012 2021
- Table 43 Israel Development of HOT Mobile's financial data ( million) 2013 2021
- Table 44 Israel Change in the number of HOT Mobile's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 45 Development of Zain Jordan's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 46 Development of Zain Jordan's financial data ($ million) 2012 2021
- Table 47 Change in the number of Zain Jordan's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 48 Change in the number of Orange Jordan's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 49 Jordan Development of Umniah's revenue 2012 2021
- Table 50 Jordan Change in the number of Umniah's mobile subscribers 2012 2018
- Table 51 Kuwait Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Table 52 Kuwait Development of Zain Group's financial data ($ million) 2012 2021
- Table 53 Kuwait Change in the number of Zain Group's subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 54 Development of Zain Kuwait's financial data ($ million) 2012 2021
- Table 55 Change in the number of Zain Kuwait's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 56 Development of Zain Kuwait's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 57 Increase in the number of Zain Kuwait's mobile base stations 2014 2020
- Table 58 Development of Ooredoo Kuwait's financial data (QAR million) 2012 2021
- Table 59 Change in the number of Ooredoo Kuwait's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 60 Development of Ooredoo Kuwait's mobile ARPU (QAR/user/month) 2012 2021
- Table 61 Development of STC Kuwait's financial data (KWD million) 2012 2021
- Table 62 Change in the number of STC Kuwait's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 63 Lebanon Change in mobile operator market share 2012 2020
- Table 64 Lebanon Change in the number of Touch's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2020
- Table 65 Oman Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Table 66 Oman Change in the number of Omantel Mobile's mobile subscribers 2016 2021
- Table 67 Development of Ooredoo Oman's mobile ARPU (QAR / month) 2013 2021
- Table 68 Change in the number of Ooredoo Oman's mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
- Table 69 Qatar Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Table 70 Change in the number of Ooredoo Qatar's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 71 Change in Ooredoo Qatar's mobile ARPU (QAR / subscriber / month) 2012 2021
- Table 72 Development of Vodafone Qatar's financial data (QAR million) 2012 2021
- Table 73 Change in the number of Vodafone Qatar's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 74 Development of Vodafone Qatar's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 75 Saudi Arabia Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2018
- Table 76 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of Mobily's mobile subscribers 2006 2017
- Table 77 Saudi Arabia Development of Mobily's financial data (SAR billion) 2012 2021
- Table 78 Saudi Arabia Development of Zain KSA's financial data ($ million) 2012 2021
- Table 79 Saudi Arabia Development of Zain KSA's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 80 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of Zain KSA's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 81 Saudi Arabia Growth in the number of Zain's base stations 2012 2020
- Table 82 Syria Change in the market share based of mobile subscribers by operator 2018 2020
- Table 83 Change in Syriatel's revenue 2012 2021
- Table 84 Development of MTN Syria's revenue and CAPEX (ZAR million) 2012 2021
- Table 85 Development of MTN Syria's revenue and EBITDA (SYP billion) 2012 2021
- Table 86 Development of MTN Syria's service revenue 2017 2021
- Table 87 Change in the number of MTN Syria's subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 88 Change in MTN Syria's ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 89 Development of MTN Syria's mobile traffic 2013 2021
- Table 90 Turkey Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Table 91 Change in the number of Turkcell's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Table 92 Turkcell Turkey's annualised mobile ARPU (TRY/month) 2012 2021
- Table 93 Turkcell Turkey - mobile data usage and MoU 2012 2021
- Table 94 Turkcell smartphone penetration 2012 2021
- Table 95 Development of Vodafone Turkey's financial data ( million) 2016 2022
- Table 96 Change in the number of Vodafone Turkey's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 97 Development of Vodafone Turkey's mobile ARPU (TRY/month) 2012 2021
- Table 98 Development of Turk Telekom's mobile ARPU (TRY/month) 2012 2021
- Table 99 Change in the number of Turk Telekom's mobile subscribers by type (million) 2012 2021
- Table 100 UAE Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Table 101 Etisalat (UAE) mobile revenue and blended ARPU 2016 2021
- Table 102 UAE Change in the number of Etisalat's domestic mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 103 UAE Change in the number of Etisalat's domestic mobile subscribers by type (million) 2012 2021
- Table 104 UAE Development of du's mobile revenue 2012 2021
- Table 105 UAE Change in the number of du's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 106 UAE du mobile subscribers by type (million) 2020 2021
- Table 107 UAE Development of du's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Table 108 Change in the number of MTN Yemen's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Table 109 Change in MTN Yemen's mobile ARPU and market share 2012 2021
- Table 110 Development of MTN Yemen's revenue and EBITDA (ZAR million) 2012 2021
- Table 111 Development of MTN Yemen's financial data (YER billion) 2016 2021
- Table 112 Change in MTN Yemen's mobile voice and data traffic 2012 2021
- Table 113 Change in the number of Sabafon's mobile subscribers 2012 2019
- Table 114 Change in the number of Yemen Mobile's mobile subscribers 2017 2019
- Table 115 Yemen Change in the number of Y-Telecom's-mobile subscribers 2016 2019
- Chart 1 Bahrain Mobile market share by operators 2018 2021
- Chart 2 Development of Batelco Bahrain's revenue by segment 2017 2021
- Chart 3 Development of Zain Bahrain's financial data - 2012 2021
- Chart 4 Change in the number of Zain Bahrain's mobile subscribers - 2012 2019
- Chart 5 Development of Zain Bahrain's mobile ARPU - 2012 2021
- Chart 6 Development of MTN Irancell's financial data 2015 2021
- Chart 7 Development of MTN Irancell's financial data 2016 2021
- Chart 8 Change in the number of MTN Irancell's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 9 Change in MTN Irancell's mobile ARPU (IRR) 2012 2021
- Chart 10 Change in MTN Irancell's mobile traffic 2012 2021
- Chart 11 Iraq Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator 2012 2020
- Chart 12 Iraq Development of Asiacell's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 13 Iraq Development of Asiacell's financial data (IQD) 2012 2021
- Chart 14 Iraq Change in the number of Asiacell's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 15 Iraq Development of Asiacell's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 16 Development of Zain Iraq's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 17 Development of Zain Iraq's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 18 Change in the number of Zain Iraq's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 19 Zain Iraq's mobile prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 20 Change in the market share of Zain Iraq's prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 21 Change in Zain Iraq's average mobile data traffic 2012 2020
- Chart 22 Israel Major mobile operators' monthly mobile ARPU (ILS / month) 2013 2021
- Chart 23 Israel Development of Cellcom's consolidated financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 24 Israel Development of Cellcom's consolidated EBITDA , capex 2012 2021
- Chart 25 Israel Change in the number of Cellcom's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 26 Israel Decline in Cellcom's annual Churn rate 2012 2021
- Chart 27 Israel Development of Partner's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 28 Israel Change in the number of Partner's mobile subscribers and churn rate 2012 2021
- Chart 29 Israel Decline in Pelephone's mobile revenue 2012 2021
- Chart 30 Israel Change in the number of Bezeq (Pelephone's) mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 31 Israel Change in the number of Pelephone's contract and prepaid subscribers 2014 2021
- Chart 32 Israel Change in Pelephone's annual churn rate 2012 2021
- Chart 33 Israel Development of HOT Mobile's financial data 2013 2021
- Chart 34 Israel Change in the number of HOT Mobile's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Chart 35 Development of Zain Jordan's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 36 Change in the number of Zain Jordan's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 37 Change in the number of Orange Jordan's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 38 Jordan Development of Umniah's revenue 2012 2021
- Chart 39 Kuwait Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Chart 40 Kuwait Development of Zain Group's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 41 Kuwait Change in the number of Zain Group's subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 42 Development of Zain Kuwait's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 43 Change in the number of Zain Kuwait's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 44 Development of Zain Kuwait's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 45 Development of Ooredoo Kuwait's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 46 Change in the number of Ooredoo Kuwait's mobile subscribers (million) 2012 2021
- Chart 47 Development of Ooredoo Kuwait's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 48 Development of STC Kuwait's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 49 Change in the number of STC Kuwait's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 50 Lebanon Change in mobile operator market share 2012 2020
- Chart 51 Lebanon Change in the number of Touch's mobile subscribers 2012 2020
- Chart 52 Oman Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Chart 53 Development of Ooredoo Oman's mobile ARPU 2013 2021
- Chart 54 Change in the number of Ooredoo Oman's mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
- Chart 55 Qatar Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Chart 56 Change in the number of Ooredoo Qatar's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 57 Change in Ooredoo Qatar's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 58 Development of Vodafone Qatar's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 59 Change in the number of Vodafone Qatar's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 60 Development of Vodafone Qatar's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 61 Saudi Arabia Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2018
- Chart 62 Saudi Arabia Development of Mobily's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 63 Saudi Arabia Development of Zain KSA's financial data 2012 2021
- Chart 64 Saudi Arabia Change in the number of Zain KSA's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 65 Syria Change in the market share based of mobile subscribers by operator 2018 2020
- Chart 66 Change in Syriatel's revenue 2012 2021
- Chart 67 Development of MTN Syria's revenue and CAPEX 2012 2021
- Chart 68 Development of MTN Syria's revenue and EBITDA 2012 2021
- Chart 69 Development of MTN Syria's service revenue 2017 2021
- Chart 70 Change in the number of MTN Syria's subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 71 Change in the number of MTN Syria's ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 72 Development of MTN Syria's mobile traffic 2013 2021
- Chart 73 Turkey Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Chart 74 Change in the number of Turkcell's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 75 Turkcell Turkey's annualised mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 76 Development of Vodafone Turkey's financial data 2016 2022
- Chart 77 Change in the number of Vodafone Turkey's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 78 Development of Vodafone Turkey's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 79 Development of Turk Telekom's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 80 Change in the number of Turk Telekom's mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
- Chart 81 UAE Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2021
- Chart 82 UAE Change in the number of Etisalat's domestic mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 83 UAE Change in the number of Etisalat's domestic mobile subscribers by type 2012 2021
- Chart 84 UAE Development of du's mobile revenue 2012 2021
- Chart 85 UAE Change in the number of du's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 86 UAE Development of du's mobile ARPU 2012 2021
- Chart 87 Change in the number of MTN Yemen's mobile subscribers 2012 2021
- Chart 88 Development of MTN Yemen's revenue and EBITDA 2012 2021
- Chart 89 Development of MTN Yemen's financial data 2016 2021
- Chart 90 Change in MTN Yemen's mobile voice and data traffic 2012 2021
- Exhibit 1 Background information - Orascom Telecom Iraq Corporation/Iraqna
- Exhibit 2 Israel 5G spectrum auction results August 2020
- Exhibit 3 Turkey Mobile operators' spectrum holdings by band June 2021