Gulf fixed line subscribers “switch on” to mobile!A 6.9% fall in fixed line subscribers from 5.8 million subscribers in 2006 to 5.4 million subscribers in 2007 in the Gulf Region. The reason for a decline is an increasing shift of customer base to the more convenient mobile voice services, according to a report. “Increasing disposable income and convenience of use is encouraging cellular penetration in the region. Other important contributing factor to the increased cellular penetration is the relaxation in telecom regulations allowing second or third player in each country,” the report said.
Gulf Region posted a five-year (2002-07) growth in cellular subscribers at a compound annual growth rate of 37.6 per cent. With the compound annual growth of 52.9 per cent in cellular subscribers, Middle East and North Africa (Mena) lead the charts. Mobile Penetration level is nearing 100%, considering the country-wise cellular markets in the Gulf Region. In the five-year period, all the six member countries reported double digit compound annual growth rate.
