Arab Advisors Group released a series of reports that analyzed and compared residential FTTH plans offered by major Internet service providers (“ISPs”) in 3 Arab regions. The reports covered 3 periods: May 2018, March 2020, and October 2024. Arab Advisors Group analyzed and compared residential FTTH fees, connection/installation fees, and available FTTH download speeds during the periods under study. For each region, Arab Advisors Group calculated and compared each country’s average monthly fees for the most common download speed, contextualizing it using the GDP per capita and GDP per household figures for each country to determine and compare FTTH affordability.
Fiber-to-the-home (“FTTH”), the cutting-edge broadband technology, provides subscribers with ultra-fast speeds and reliable network options to meet the ever-growing demands of digital communication. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, FTTH faces fierce competition from the rise of 5G networks, which also offer ultra-fast Internet speeds, giving Internet users a wide array of choices for staying connected. As a result, Internet service providers (“ISPs”) offering FTTH must adapt by introducing more cost-effective fiber packages, reducing service fees, and responding to market shifts and the increasing demand from subscribers for greater value. In the Arab world, telecom operators are expanding their FTTH offerings, enhancing availability and coverage while making these services more affordable; however, despite the broader regional expansion of fiber networks, some operators continue to restrict fiber access to specific areas, limiting its reach.
As part of its ongoing monitoring of the MENA telecom sector, Arab Advisors Group has released a comprehensive series of research reports that analyze and compare residential FTTH trends and pricing across three key Arab regions: the GCC, the Levant, and the Maghreb region, including Egypt. This series covers major ISPs in each country during the periods of May 2018, March 2020, and October 2024, providing detailed insights into FTTH features such as fees, connection and installation fees, and available download speeds for each region and timeframe. The series further includes a comparative analysis of the average monthly FTTH fees charged by leading ISPs across the three periods, alongside a contextual comparison with each country's GDP per capita and GDP per household. This approach enables Arab Advisors Group to track and assess FTTH affordability trends across the regions, offering valuable insights into the evolving telecom landscape. Drawing on Arab Advisors Group's unmatched regional expertise and precise data, this series serves as the most detailed and authoritative resource on residential FTTH pricing, trends, and market leadership for the analyzed periods. It provides ISPs, whether currently offering FTTH or planning to do so, with the tools to optimize network deployment and cost-efficiency. By comparing pricing strategies against regional and national averages, ISPs can better assess the competitiveness and affordability of their services and adjust them to meet market demands. Lastly, the report is an essential resource for telecom regulators, empowering them to monitor and regulate fiber pricing effectively, ensuring fair competition, optimal consumer benefits, and efficient infrastructure development.
Hiba Rabadi, Managing Director of Arab Advisors Group said: “Our series of reports enables telecommunications regulatory authorities to effectively monitor the progress of their telecom sectors. By providing data-driven insights, our reports help shape policies, ensure compliance, and promote market competitiveness. This empowers regulators to hold operators accountable, encouraging them to adjust their fees and offer affordable, fair prices to Internet users. At Arab Advisors Group, we take pride in supporting regulatory bodies in fulfilling this vital role, a commitment we've upheld since 2001. Our latest series on residential FTTH fees further enhances our extensive library of over 6,000 reports, reinforcing our dedication to delivering valuable insights to the sector.”
Rabadi added, “Internet Service Providers ("ISPs") play a pivotal role in delivering reliable, high-speed, and affordable Internet access to both consumers and businesses. To stay competitive, ISPs must offer a diverse range of plans at varying price points to capture the needs of a broad customer base. On the pricing front, residential FTTH fees have decreased across all regions under study during the analyzed periods. For instance, in the GCC region, average residential FTTH fees dropped by 46% in 2024 compared to 2018. In terms of speeds, a notable 92% increase in mid and high-speed FTTH plans was recorded by major ISPs in the Maghreb region and Egypt during the same period. Our series of research reports is an essential tool for ISPs to refine their business strategies. These reports provide detailed analysis of residential FTTH fees across different regions, contextualized by download speeds on both national and regional levels. Additionally, Arab Advisors Group highlights key pricing disparities across regions for each period under review. By leveraging these insights, ISPs can enhance their service offerings and adjust pricing to be more competitive, ultimately making Internet more affordable and appealing to users.”
The series of reports: FTTH Fees and Affordability in the GCC: A Comprehensive Comparison 2018, 2020, 2024, FTTH Fees and Affordability in the Levant: A Comprehensive Comparison 2018, 2020, 2024, FTTH Fees and Affordability in the Maghreb Region and Egypt: A Comprehensive Comparison 2018, 2020, 2024, which were released in between January and March 2025 to Arab Advisors Group’s communication research subscribers, answer the below questions:
● What were the major ISPs’ residential FTTH offerings across each region under study in 2018, 2020, and 2024?
● On country and operator levels, how did subscription fees of the residential FTTH services change during the years under study?
● Which ISPs imposed connection/installation fees on their residential FTTH services? And how much did these fees vary across the years under study?
● What were the available residential FTTH download speeds across each country in 2018, 2020, and 2024?
● What was the relative pricing status and how did residential FTTH affordability vary in each country during the years under study?
● Which countries top the list in terms of residential FTTH affordability in the region?
Please contact Arab Advisors Group for more details or to get a copy of the reports’ Table of Contents.
The reports were released to Arab Advisors Group’s subscribers and can be purchased for a fee of US$ 6,000, each.
Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region produced over 6,100 reports on the Arab World’s communications, media, and financial markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Group’s (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Services (Media and Telecom).
To date, Arab Advisors Group serves over 1,000 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications markets to these clients. Some of our clients can be viewed on https://arabadvisors.com/client-list
Source: Arab Advisors Press Release
