Over 1.5 million Internet accounts were operational in the Middle East last year, using a combined bandwidth capacity of more than 3.4 gigabits per second (gbps). According to a recently published index by Arab Advisors, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks first in utilized bandwidth while Qatar ranks first in bandwidth capacity.
“Naturally, the aggregate figure disguises substantial intra regional disparities in bandwidth. The Regional Internet Bandwidth Capacity Index results reveal these disparities as the index figures ranged from a very low 0.10 score for Syria and a high 3.53 for Qatar,” Arab Advisors Analyst, Shahin Shahin states in the report accompanying the index.
The report calculates the regional Internet bandwidth capacity index for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE. The regional utilized Internet bandwidth Index includes Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE. This is primarily because in a few of the covered markets the capacity is not utilized in its entirety. Results of more than one indicate a better than regional average bandwidth per subscriber.
Qatar led the regional Internet bandwidth capacity index with a score of 3.53, followed by Morocco with 2.35, UAE 1.59, Jordan 1.44, Oman 1.36, Egypt 1.33, Saudi Arabia 0.51, Lebanon 0.41 and Syria 0.10.
In regards to the regional utilized Internet bandwidth index, the UAE was the leading country with an index score of 2.52, followed by Egypt with 1.47, Qatar 1.37, Jordan 0.91, Oman 0.41, Saudi Arabia 0.37, Lebanon 0.29 and Syria 0.15. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
