LONDON-New research from regional analysts Arab Advisors Group has revealed that an increasing trend of fixed-to-mobile substitution is threatening monopoly telecom operators across the Middle East region.
Figures released by Arab Advisors Group show the total number of cellular subscribers for the region’s 19 mobile operators exceeded 22.2 million by the end of 2002, a penetration rate of 11.45 percent.
Saudi Arabia’s STC, Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Maroc Telecom account for the bulk of mobile subscribers in the region with more than 50 percent of the total Middle East mobile market.
