Foreign Investors Have the Highest Share of Revenues in Arab Telecom Markets

Foreign investors have the highest share of revenues in the telecom markets of Jordan, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, reports the Arab Advisors Group. The analysis aimed at examining the "actual" level of privatization and state ownership in each country measured by the proportionate share of each operator of total market revenues.

The Arab Advisors Group has analyzed the ownership structure and revenues of all fixed line and cellular operators in the region. This was intended to shed a light on the actual level of privatization and state ownership in each country measured by the proportionate share of total revenues for the first nine months of 2008.

"Lebanon and Libya have the least privatized telecom markets, with 100% government share (ownership) of PSTN and cellular telecom revenues. The public sector in Kuwait had the highest share of the PSTN and cellular revenues amongst all examined public sectors. In terms of local private sector revenue share, Palestine and Kuwait had the highest shares. Finally, in terms of foreign ownership proportionate share of revenues, Jordan had the highest share of 75% of proportionate PSTN and cellular revenues, followed by Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria." Ms. Hadeel Sakkijha, Arab Advisors Sr. Analyst commented.

Posted to the site on 28th January 2009