Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Kuwait

The usage of Internet in Kuwait increased 12% during 2020 are ranked second in terms of the cheapest prices in the world,
compared to 2019 especially the mobile broadband networks according to data issued by the CITC which also revealed that all
as a result of the preference for wireless communications. The residents in Kuwait have access to the fourth generation network
daily quoting Communications and Information Technology for mobile phones. This is in addition to Kuwait being one of the
Commission (CITC) said the monthly cost of a broadband pioneers of the fifth-generation technology and covers about 97%
subscription basket ranges from 5 to 6 dinars per month in of this network. The commission stated families in Kuwait spend
Kuwait (equivalent to 16 to 20 dollars), and is among the lowest an average of 5.1% of their annual income on communications
in the world and revealed there are about 5.6 million people who and information technology and regarding the spread and use of
subscribe to mobile broadband communications in Kuwait, with a devices, the CITC stated almost all people in Kuwait use mobile
penetration rate of more than 100% at a rate of 1.3 subscriptions phones and the Internet on a daily basis, while 88% of homes
per person. The communications via optical fibers currently have own computer devices, such as PCs, laptops and tablets, while
a 45% share, compared to 31% in 2019, and the speed of the the Smart TVs saw an amazing growth in accreditation rates
majority of connections is 53%, or about 10 megabytes or more. during the past 5 years, as the prevalence rate in the Kuwaiti
The commission stated that the monthly cost of the basic plan domestic sector increased from 3.4% in 2015 to 74% in 2020.
provides a reasonable amount of calls and data, and this varies Meanwhile, the sources say digital age is developing rapidly, as
depending on the type of connection, and is at least 5 gigabytes “we see individuals and institutions using digital technologies in
for a fixed broadband connection, while it ranges from 500 homes and workplaces at an unprecedented rate, and in 2020,
megabytes to 1.5 gigabytes for a mobile broadband connection. In the Covid-19 pandemic doubled the speed of adopting digital
terms of a fair comparison between countries, the prices represent methods for living, working and transactions to reach new high
a percentage of the average per capita income in the country levels.”
or region, and the prices of fixed broadband communication (November 23, 2021) arabtimesonline.com

Libya

The Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba has said that the enter the market. Warning that the state-dominated monopoly
country’s telecoms sector needs to be opened up to competition would struggle to compete with the leading private telcos, the
to improve services. Speaking at the Taqnya 2021 ICT exhibition PM complained that current services are basic and too expensive
in Tripoli, Aldabaiba criticized the sector’s poor services and high when compared to neighboring countries, especially given the
prices, saying his government will seek to increase competition public’s reliance on mobile services.
by privatizing the sector and allowing foreign competitors to (November 12, 2021) Libya Herald

Morocco

The number of internet users in Morocco has reached a new high, September 2021, ADSL connections stabilized with more than
with 93% penetration rate. The country's National Agency for 43% having access to speeds greater than 10Mbps and 2.46
Telecommunications Regulation released its latest report which million Moroccans subscribing for a fixed telephone service
shows there are nearly 34 million people who have access to which marks an increase in usage compared to last year by 6%. In
the web through either mobile or fiber optic connections--a 17 terms traffic during 3 months - 14 billion minutes were registered
percent increase from last year and 18 percent annual growth this semester (low 0-4%) but slightly higher when considering
rate over time! In the past year, more than 17 million people in only mobile telephony (0-1%). SMS traffic increased by 6.89% to
Morocco have become internet subscribers. The penetration reach 762 million messages, while the average monthly mobile
rate has climbed from 93% to nearly 34 million with a total of usage decreased by 6%. Morocco’s top level domain (.ma) saw
18%. Mobile devices remain dominant at 31 Million-subscribers nearly 103,000 new websites established between June and
(91%). But fiber optic connections saw an increase higher than September 2022 which shows an increase of more than 14%. The
most other types; 82%. With 1.6 million users at the end of report notes that many people attributed this rise in their internet

109 NOV-DEC 2021