arab advisors - cellular rates in the arab world - 2010 - table of contents

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Cellular Rates in the Arab World: A Regional Comparison

Arab Advisors Group

Strategic Research Service

April 2010

Analysts: Faten Bader Zeena Al Borgan


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Table of Contents Section I: Introduction..................................................................................1

Section II: Executive Summary .....................................................................2

Section III: General Comparisons .................................................................5

GDP per Capita............................................................................................5

Exchange Rates...........................................................................................7

Sales Tax Rates...........................................................................................8

Regulatory Landscape ..................................................................................9

Section IV: Regional Cellular Offers and Rates............................................10

Rates and Tariffs .......................................................................................13

A. Postpaid Offers ...........................................................................................14

Connection Fees ........................................................................................14

Minute rates (Peak and Off-Peak).................................................................17

Postpaid Minute Rates and Relative Pricing Status ..........................................18

B. Prepaid Offers.............................................................................................20

Connection Fees ........................................................................................20

Minute Rates (Peak and Off-Peak) ................................................................26

Prepaid Minute Rates and Relative Pricing Status............................................27

Prepaid Cards’ Validity Periods.....................................................................29

Section V: Cellular Billing Methods ..............................................................31



List of Exhibits Exhibit 1: Regional cellular rates comparison.....................................................4 Exhibit 2: A regional GDP per capita comparison (2008)....................................5 Exhibit 3: Exchange rates as of March 25, 2010 .................................................7 Exhibit 4: Tax rate applied on cellular rates in the Arab World (March 2010) ....8 Exhibit 5: Cellular market status (March 2010)..................................................9 Exhibit 6: Prepaid and postpaid plans by country (March 2010) ......................10 Exhibit 7: Prepaid and postpaid plans by cellular operators (March 2010).......11 Exhibit 8: Postpaid average connection fees ....................................................14 Exhibit 9: Minimum and maximum postpaid connection fees ...........................16 Exhibit 10: Postpaid average minute rates (peak and off-peak).......................17 Exhibit 11: Postpaid average minute rates (peak and off-peak), GDP per capita,

and relative pricing status .........................................................................18 Exhibit 12: Prepaid average connection fees....................................................21 Exhibit 13: Prepaid average connection fees including credit (US$) ................22 Exhibit 14: Prepaid average connection fees excluding credit (US$)................23 Exhibit 15: Prepaid average connection fees (excluding credit), GDP per capita,

and relative pricing status .........................................................................24 Exhibit 16: Minimum and maximum prepaid connection fees...........................25 Exhibit 17: Prepaid average minute rates (peak and off-peak) ........................26 Exhibit 18: Prepaid average minute rates (peak and off-peak), GDP per capita,

and relative pricing status .........................................................................27 Exhibit 19: Prepaid recharge cards’ validity and grace periods ........................30 Exhibit 20: Split of operators according to billing methods ..............................31 Exhibit 21: Billing methods adopted by cellular operators ...............................32 Exhibit 22: Prepaid and postpaid billing methods used by cellular operators ...33

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arab advisors - cellular rates in the arab world - 2010 - table of contents

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