Syriatel Progress in Syria
The telecom industry nowadays is becoming one of the most important factors in each countrys economy, according to the IDATA report the telecom market in 2009 scored a total of 284 billion Euros globally. Although it had its down falls during the global economy crises bit it is expected to reach its peak with a 1.5% growth by the first quarter of 2011(IDATA, 2010)
Standing on what have been researched and consulting firm Analysis thje region’s mobile sector generated revenues of $22bn last year, and it is estimated to grow at a rate of 10 percent per annum over the next five years, reaching almost $40bn by the end of 2012(SDNSI, 2910)
This rings us to Syria that has one of the lowest penetration rates(telecom market) in the Middle East Region at below 25 percent. (nsdisunds, 2010). This sis because Syria has the most strictly regulated telecom sector in the Middle East, Quick comparism between Syria and Joradn, its neighbouring country, shows how far the telecom industry is from a mature market. Though Syria’s population is three times the population size of Jordan its market is dominated by two operators Syriatel and MTN wheras Jordan telecom industry is occupied by four global operators; therefore the market is striving for development and expansion. Recently in 2919 the Ministry of Communication and Technology(MOCT) opened the Syrian telecom market for a third operator. So far six Arab and foreign major telecom companies submitted bids in Syria’s pre-qualifying stage for a thiurd mobile telecommunication license. The companies include Emirates Telecommunications Corp, Saudi Telecom, Quatar telecom, Turkcell, France Telecom, Iran’s TAMCO(MOCT, 2010). Once Syria gets three operators that are free to compete with each other we will see penetration rates exceeding 100percent in the next three to four years and effectively doubling the market.