Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa. Accelerating High-Speed Internet Access

Transcription

1 DIRECTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT Communication and Information Technologies Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa Accelerating High-Speed Internet Access Natalija Gelvanovska, Michel Rogy, and Carlo Maria Rossotto

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3 Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa

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5 Directions in Development Communication and Information Technologies Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa Accelerating High-Speed Internet Access Natalija Gelvanovska Michel Rogy Carlo Maria Rossotto

6 2014 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC Telephone: ; Internet: Some rights reserved This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. Note that The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content included in the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of the content contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0. Under the Creative Commons Attribution license, you are free to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt this work, including for commercial purposes, under the following conditions: Attribution Please cite the work as follows: Gelvanovska, Natalija, Michel Rogy and Carlo Maria Rossotto Broadband Networks in the Middle East and North Africa, Accelerating High-Speed Internet Access. Directions in Development. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi: / License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 Translations If you create a translation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This translation was not created by The World Bank and should not be considered an official World Bank translation. The World Bank shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation. All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: ; pubrights@worldbank.org. ISBN (paper): ISBN (electronic): DOI: / Cover photo: Tarmak Media. London, UK Cover design: Debra Naylor, Naylor Designs

7 Contents Foreword Acknowledgments About the Authors Abbreviations xi xiii xv xvii Overview 1 Reference 15 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 Objective and Structure of the Study 17 Why Is Broadband Important for Economic and Social Development? 20 How Does MENA Compare in Terms of Broadband? 23 Notes 25 References 26 Chapter 2 National Broadband Policies and Market Development 31 The Need for Broadband Policies 31 Three Core Objectives of Broadband Policy and Three Stages of Market Development 35 Clustering Countries According to Their Level of Broadband Development 42 References 56 Chapter 3 Infrastructure Deployment and Developing Competition 59 Backbone Network Infrastructure 60 Access Network Infrastructure 61 International and Regional Infrastructure 62 National Backbone and Backhaul Infrastructure 74 Access Network Connectivity 80 Notes 97 References 98 v

8 vi Contents Chapter 4 Recommendations to Accelerate the Development of Broadband Infrastructure 101 Promote Facilities-Based Competition 103 Introduce New Models of Infrastructure Supply 105 Implement Measures to Reduce Deployment Costs 111 Government Intervention to Stimulate Broadband in Underserved Areas 118 Notes 124 References 124 Chapter 5 Conclusion 127 Annex A Selected Country Case Studies 129 Morocco 129 Tunisia 140 The Arab Republic of Egypt 152 Jordan 159 Algeria 167 Libya 178 Notes 191 Boxes 2.1 Egypt s National Broadband Plan Broadband Policy: Objectives and Implementation of the Digital Agenda for Europe Broadband Diffusion Curve Affordability of Broadband for the Poorest Ex-ante Sector-Specific Regulation in Telecommunications Mobile Broadband Technologies Leveraging Sovereign Wealth Funds to Expand Fiber-optic Networks: Gulf Bridge International Open Access to International Submarine or Terrestrial Cables Regulated Access to Submarine Cable Landing Stations in Tunisia Joint Infrastructure Deployment Framework in Bahrain National Infrastructure Deployment Project in Lebanon Jordan s National Broadband Network Broadband Usage Patterns in the Youth Population The Digital Dividend Ladder of Investment and Regulated Wholesale Broadband Offers Relaxing Regulations for Aerial Wiring to Stimulate Broadband Development Mobile Network Operators Are Pioneers in the Optimization of Network Costs Leapfrogging in Lithuania 112

9 Contents vii 4.4 Cutting the Rollout Costs of Broadband Infrastructure in the European Union Cross-Sectoral Passive Infrastructure Sharing in Portugal Approaches to Passive Infrastructure Mapping Coverage Obligations in 4G/LTE Licenses in Germany and Sweden Designing Public Subsidies for Rural Broadband: The Example of Chile Satellite Rural Broadband in Canada 123 Figures 1.1 Broadband Consumer Needs and Technology Options Percentage of Wikipedia Articles per Language 22 B2.3.1 The S-Curve 35 B2.3.2 Penetration of Wireline Broadband Services in Various Countries Fixed and Mobile Broadband Prices Mobile Broadband Penetration and Affordability, December Fixed Broadband Penetration and Affordability, December Importance of Policy Objectives Depends on the Stage of Broadband Market Development Fixed Broadband Penetration and Access Prices, December Fixed-to-Mobile Substitution in an Emerging Market (Arab Republic of Egypt) and a Mature Market (Bahrain), December Fixed-to-Mobile Substitution in Jordan, December S-Curves of Fixed Broadband Market Development in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar Trends in Fixed Broadband Access Technologies in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, December Mobile Broadband Penetration and Access Prices, December Take-up of Mobile Broadband in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Morocco, and Libya, December Network Components of Broadband Infrastructure 60 B3.1.1 Mobile Broadband Technologies Synergies from Utilities Investments: Roads and Water Distribution/Sanitation in Jordan Global Consumer Internet Video Traffic Complementary Fixed and Mobile Architectures 83 B3.8.1 Population Distribution in MENA 86 B3.8.2 User Age Distribution on Facebook in Egypt and Saudi Arabia 87 B3.8.3 Proportion of Mobile Phone Use, by Age and Activity Distribution of Fixed Broadband Connections per Technology in Four MENA Subregions, December

10 viii Contents 3.6 Distribution of Fixed Broadband Connections per Technology in MENA, December Fixed Broadband Market Shares of Incumbent Operators in MENA, December B Investment Ladder and Optimal Broadband Regulatory Model Growth in Fixed Broadband Connections per Technology in MENA, December 2011 December Liberalization of the Telecommunications Sector in Bahrain Supply-Side Policy Measures to Accelerate Broadband Deployment 103 B4.2.1 Overview of Mobile Network Cost Optimization Models Overview of Possible New Models of Infrastructure Supply Involvement of Real-Estate Companies in the Passive Infrastructure Layer 110 B4.3.1 Evolution of Breakdown of FTTx Deployment by Operator Type in Lithuania Typical Stages of the Broadband Network Deployment Chain 113 B4.8.1 Mobile Broadband Subscriptions per Operator in Chile 122 A.1 Libyan Market Structure 178 Maps 1.1 Economies in the MENA Region Submarine Cables and Cross-border Connections in North Africa Submarine Cables and Cross-border Connections in the Middle East Cross-border Connections in Maghreb Countries 66 B3.2.1 Fiber-optic cables International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Morocco 73 A.1 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Morocco 130 A.2 Main Links of Maroc Telecom s National Fiber Backbone 131 A.3 Main Links of Finetis Maroc s National Fiber Backbone 133 A.4 Key Characteristics of ONCF s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 136 A.5 Key Characteristics of ONEE s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 138 A.6 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Tunisia 142 A.7 Main Links of Tunisie Telecom s National Fiber Backbone 143 A.8 Key Characteristics of SNCFT s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 145 A.9 Key Characteristics of Tunisie Autoroutes Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 148 A.10 Key Characteristics of STEG s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 150 A.11 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Egypt 153 A.12 Key Characteristics of EETC s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 155 A.13 Key Characteristics of ENR s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 157 A.14 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Jordan 160 A.15 Main Links of Jordan Telecom s National Fiber Backbone 161

11 Contents ix A.16 Key Characteristics of NEPCO s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 163 A.17 Key Characteristics of NBN s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 166 A.18 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Algeria 168 A.19 Main Links of Algeria Telecom s National Fiber Backbone 172 A.20 Main Links of Djezzy s National Fiber Backbone 173 A.21 Main Links of Sonatrach s and ADE s National Fiber Backbone 175 A.22 Key Characteristics of Sonelgaz s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 176 A.23 Key Characteristics of SNTF s Fiber-Optic Infrastructure 177 A.24 International Submarine Cable Connectivity in Libya 180 A.25 Libya Tunisia Egypt Terrestrial Interconnectivity, A.26 LPTIC NGBN Infrastructure, A.27 GECOL s National Fiber Optic Infrastructure, A.28 Fiber-Optic Infrastructure of Libyan Gas and Oil Companies, A.29 Fiber-Optic Infrastructure of MMR, Tables 1.1 Examples of Broadband Employment Multipliers Overview of Broadband in MENA National Broadband Policies Within MENA, B2.2.1 National Broadband Plans Coverage Targets in Selected EU Countries 34 B2.4.1 Affordability of Broadband in Emerging Markets Penetration and Prices of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, December Market Share of Incumbent Operator in Selected Markets, December Distribution of MENA Countries Among Three Development Stages Penetration Rates and Prices of Mobile Broadband Access, December Clustering of MENA Countries in Terms of Broadband Market Development Design Capacity for Existing Cables and Effective Bandwidth per Capita, Competition for International Submarine Cable Connectivity How Ready are MENA Economies for Affordable Broadband? Options for Expansion of National Backbone Infrastructure Options for Expansion of National Backbone Infrastructure in Selected Countries Global Consumer Web, , and Data Traffic, Mobile Broadband Connections per Technology in MENA Subregions, December Digital Switchover Across the MENA Region 88

12 x Contents 3.9 Launch of 4G Services in the MENA Region, September 2011 December Penetration of PCs and Internet User to PC Ratio in the MENA Region, Evolution of FTTH/B in MENA Subregions Supply-Side Policy Measures in Accordance with Broadband Market Development Distribution of Costs Between Different Infrastructure Layers Operational Models Involving Real-Estate Developers and Telecommunications Operations Examples of Active and Passive Infrastructure Sharing Coordination Mechanisms in Finland, France, and the Netherlands Bottlenecks and Barriers to More Efficient Use of Passive Infrastructure 118 B4.6.1 Approaches to Passive Infrastructure Mapping 119 A.1 Algerian International Gateways: Landing Stations, Terrestrial, and Potential Alternatives 170 A.2 Key Features of Libya s NGBN Infrastructure, A.3 Key Features of GECOL Fiber Optic Infrastructure, A.4 Fiber-Optic Infrastructure of Libyan Gas and Oil Companies, A.5 Key Features of the MMR Infrastructure 189

13 Foreword The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stretches across two continents and is surrounded by six bodies of water including the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Arabian Sea. Running through these waters, fiberoptic cables connect Europe to Africa, Africa to Asia, and the countries of MENA to the world. Over land, terrestrial fiber networks of telecom operators and utility companies are deployed and are forming or could potentially form national backbones connecting countries, regions, and cities. The Arab Republic of Egypt has a unique and critical role to play in managing and protecting fiber-optic cables running through the Suez Canal. Damage to one cable could mean an Internet blackout for a dozen countries at a time. Djibouti and Lebanon have many submarine cables landing on their coasts and are key gateways linking these cables to the terrestrial backbone infrastructure that then has the potential to reach into the hearts of the African and Asian continents. What does all this fiber mean for the countries of MENA? Fiber-optic cables are the backbone of the information and data highways that make up the World Wide Web or Internet. The transition from copper lines to fiber-optic cables has meant that Internet speeds have the potential to become virtually unlimited, bringing Internet service that is always on and at broadband speeds. Broadband Internet, like the steam engine in its time and electricity throughout the modern era, is today considered as a general purpose technology and a driver of growth. With some of the highest rates of unemployment and the most youthful populations in the world, MENA countries have a formidable challenge to create and sustain economic and social opportunities for their people. Broadband Internet is a potential game-changer, enabling new solutions and innovative approaches that could help the region meet some of its pressing challenges. If more people are equipped with access to broadband Internet, particularly the youth and women, tomorrow s MENA region could look significantly different. Despite this potential, however, the uptake of broadband Internet has been strikingly slow and the price of broadband service is high in many of the countries in MENA. The market structures in these countries have only partially changed from the days when telecommunications were treated as a monopoly utility service. There are gaps in infrastructure regionally with no connectivity between neighboring countries in some cases. Similarly, there are gaps within countries, exacerbating the (digital) divide between rural and urban areas. xi

14 xii Foreword Broadband Networks in MENA: Accelerating High-Speed Internet Access takes stock of the existing infrastructure in at least 18 MENA countries and examines the various regulatory and market bottlenecks that are hampering the growth of the Internet in these and other MENA countries. It provides policy and regulatory options for increasing effective use of existing infrastructure as well as alternative infrastructure networks such as power grids and railroads. It explains the benefits of effective cross-sector infrastructure construction frameworks. It points to the need to adjust market structures to foster competitive behavior among service providers which would in turn lead to benefits for the people of MENA, including lower prices and value-added services. This report comes at an opportune time. It is very much in tune with the regional transition toward more inclusive development and addresses the imperative of stimulating growth as the source of desperately needed jobs. We hope the report sheds some light on how the potential benefits of broadband can be widely distributed by ensuring that the people of MENA have access to a high-quality and affordable Internet service. Junaid Kamal Ahmad Director, Sustainable Development Department Middle East and North Africa Region The World Bank Jonathan D. Walters Director, Regional Programs and Partnerships Middle East and North Africa Region The World Bank

15 Acknowledgments This study was written as part of a technical assistance activity funded by the Regional Programs and Partnerships Unit in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region of The World Bank. The country case studies were funded by the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF). The main authors of the report are Natalija Gelvanovska (Senior [Sr.] Information and Communications Technology [ICT] Policy Specialist), Dr. Michel Rogy (ICT Policy Advisor), and Carlo Maria Rossotto (Lead ICT Policy Specialist, ICT Regional Coordinator, Europe and Central Asia [ECA] and MENA) of the Information and Communications Technology Sector Unit (TWICT). The country cases in the appendix were written by Claude de Jacquelot (Consultant). The study benefitted from the support of a research team, comprising Masatake Yamamichi (Consultant), Joulan Abdul Khalek (Junior Professional Associate), Aleksandra Liaplina (Consultant), Naomi J. Halewood (ICT Policy Specialist), Mather Pfeiffenberger (Operations Analyst), Ievgeniia Viatchaninova (Consultant) (TWICT), and Saida Ouederni (Consultant). The authors and the research team wish to thank the peer reviewers, Dr. Alexandre Serot (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain), Dr. Tim Kelly (Lead ICT Specialist, TWICT, and infodev), Doyle Gallegos (Lead ICT Policy Specialist, Regional Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean [LAC] and Global Connectivity Practice Leader, TWICT), Yann Burtin (Senior Underwriter, MIGOP, MIGA); and Kareem Aziz (Investment Officer, CN3F8, IFC) for the detailed and actionable guidance on the report. The team also extends acknowledgement for the valuable guidance and leadership received from World Bank management, in particular Jonathan Walters (Director, Regional Programs and Partnerships), and Junaid Kamal Ahmad (Sector Director, MNSSD). Acknowledgement and thanks are also extended to colleagues for their support, including Jose Luis Irigoyen (Director, TWI), Patricia Veevers-Carter (Sector Manager, MNSSD); Chris Allen Vein (Sr. Manager, TWICT); Randeep Sudan (Sector Manager, TWICT); Kent Lupberger (Sr. Manager, CNGIT); Jamal Al-Kibbi (Program Manager, CMNA5); Rajendra Singh (Sr. Regulatory Specialist, TWICT); Husam Mohamed Beides (Lead Energy Specialist, MNSEG); Rome Chavapricha (Sr. Infrastructure Specialist, MNSEG); Raymond Bourdeaux (Sector Leader, ECCU4); Antonio Nucifora xiii

16 xiv Acknowledgments (Lead Economist, MNSED); Hayat-Taleb Al-Harazi (Program Officer, MNARS); and Andrew Jones (Operations Analyst, PPIAF). We also gratefully acknowledge the guidance provided by the World Bank External Affairs Department (EXT) and in particular thank Dale Lautenbach (Communications Advisor, MNAEX); Catherine M. Russell (Sr. Communications Officer, TWI); and Lara Saade (Communications Officer, MNAEX) for their inputs and suggestions. The team also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Hema Nair, Ndeye Anna Ba (Program Assistants, TWICT, and Maria Theresa Cruz (Consultant)). Last but not least, the team also thanks the governments and telecommunications regulatory authorities of Algeria, Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, the United Arab emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza for their availability to respond to detailed questionnaires, and for the kind help provided during follow-up calls to enhance the quality control check for the study. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors.

17 About the Authors Natalija Gelvanovska, Senior ICT Policy Specialist, joined the World Bank in 2012 as a Senior ICT Policy Specialist and a secondee from the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania where she is holding the position of a Deputy Director for the Electronic Communications Department. Natalija is currently working in the Middle East and North Africa and Europe and Central Asia teams of the Policy Division of the ICT Unit. Prior to joining the Bank, Gelvanovska was the Chair of the Working Group on Technical Regulatory Issues at CEPT grouping over 20 European countries to discuss and develop common approaches for policy and regulation applicable the technical aspects of networks and service provision. Gelvanovska has an extensive experience of advisory services under the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission on the harmonization of national regulatory frameworks with EU aqui in numerous European countries. Natalija studied Physics and holds a Master of Science from Vilnius University, Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian. Dr. Michel Rogy, ICT Policy Advisor, joined the World Bank in 2011 to (a) advise governments on policies and regulations that create a positive investment climate for telecommunications, postal services, and e-applications and (b) structure innovative investment programs including public-private partnerships that attract private investment. He is the Task Team Leader of several lending and technical assistance operations in the North Africa and Africa regions. Before joining the Bank he was for 6 years a Partner with Paris-based TERA Consultants, where he advised the European Commission DG InfSo as well as regulatory authorities and operators throughout the Europe Middle East Africa on policy, strategic, and regulatory issues in the ICT/telecommunications sector. Michel also worked for neuf telecom, an alternative French telecommunications operator, first as Director of the Business Unit Interconnection and Carrier Services and Head of regulatory affairs, and then as director of the Business Unit Business Customers. He started his career as Partner with Ratingen-based EUTELIS Consult, where he advised the European Commission DG InfSo as well as regulatory authorities and operators throughout Europe. Michel holds a PhD in Economics from Telecom ParisTech and a Master s Degree in Telecommunications from Telecom Bretagne. He speaks French, German, and some Italian. xv

18 xvi About the Authors Carlo Maria Rossotto, Lead ICT Policy Specialist and ECA/MENA Coordinator, joined the World Bank in 1998 and is the Regional Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa and Europe and Central Asia teams of the Policy Division of the ICT Unit. He is the Task Manager of several lending and technical assistance operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific regions. He has performed economic and regulatory analysis in several telecommunications related projects including the privatization and fiscal impact of sector reforms. Before joining the Bank he advised European ICT corporations on demand analysis, marketing, corporate strategy and regulatory affairs. He holds post-graduate degrees in Economics and Business Administration from Bocconi University Milan and in Financial and Commercial Regulation from The London School of Economics. He speaks Italian, French, and some Spanish.

19 Abbreviations 2G 3G 4G ACE ADE ADM ADSL AMU ANACOM ARCEP AT BAKOM BB BGT BIX BNetzA BPO BSS CAB CATV CDMA CIS CEPT CRAIG DAE DICT second generation of mobile telecommunications technology third generation of mobile telecommunications technology fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology Africa Coast to Europe submarine cable Algérienne des Eaux (Algerian water distribution agency) Autoroute Du Maroc (Morocco Highway Administration asymmetric digital subscriber line Arab Maghreb Union Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (Portuguese ICT regulatory authority) Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (French ICT regulatory authority) Algeria Telecom Bundesamt für Kommunikation (Swiss ICT regulatory authority) broadband Large Scale Topography, the Netherlands Bahrain Internet Exchange Bundesnetzagentur (German utilities regulatory authority) business process outsourcing business support system Central African Backbone cable access television Code division multiple access Centralized Information System European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations Centre Régional Auvergnat de l Information Géographique Digital Agenda for Europe Déclarations d Intention de Commencement de Travaux xvii

20 xviii Abbreviations dl DSL DT DVB-RCS DVD DWDM EC ECOWAS EETC EHV EHV/HV EIG ENR EPEG EU FALCON FB FDD FDI FDT FTRA FTTB FTTC FTTD FTTH FTTN FTTP FTTx Gb Gbps GBI GCC GCCIA GDP GECOL GHz GIS downloads digital subscriber line Djibouti Telecom Digital Video Broadcasting- Return Channel via Satellite digital video desk dense wavelength division multiplexing European Commission Economic Community of West African States Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company extra high voltage extra high voltage/high voltage Europe India Gateway Egyptian National Railways Europe Persia Express Gateway European Union submarine telecommunications cable connecting India and several countries in the Persian Gulf fast broadband Frequency Division Duplexing foreign direct investment Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones (Telecommunications Development Fund, Chile) Forum on Telecommunications/ICT Regulation in Africa fiber-to-the-building fiber-to-the-cabinet, fiber-to-the-curb fiber-to-the-desk fiber-to-the-home fiber-to-the-node fiber-to-the-premises fiber-to-the-x gigabit gigabits per second Gulf Bridge International Gulf Cooperation Council GCC Interconnection Authority gross domestic product General Electricity Company of Libya gigahertz geographic information system

21 Abbreviations xix GNI GRPS GPT GSM GSMA gtld HH HHI HV HSDPA HV ICT INT IP ISP IT ITC ITU ITU-T JADI LINK JTG kbps KDN KLIC km LAN LLU LTE LPTIC M2M Mb Mbps MBNL MEETS Gross national income General packet radio service general purpose technology Global System for Mobile Communications GSM Association generic top level domain households Herfindahl-Hirschman Index high voltage High-Speed Downlink Packet Access high voltage information and communications technology Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (Tunisian ICT regulatory authority) Internet Protocol Internet service provider information technology Integrated Telecom Company International Telecommunication Union International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Jeddah-Amman-Damascus-Istanbul Link (submarine fiberoptic cable connecting those four cities) Jordan Telecom Group kilobits per second Kenya Data Network Kabels en Leidigen Informatie Centrum (Cable and Pipeline Information Center, the Netherlands) kilometer local area network local loop unbundling long-term evolution, standard for fourth generation mobile telecommunications technology Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Company machine-to-machine megabit megabits per second Mobile Broadband Network Limited Middle East Europe Terrestrial System

22 xx Abbreviations MENA MHz MMR MPLS MVNO NBN NEPAD NEPCO NGBN NJUG NPCA NRA NSN OECD OFCOM OLO ONCF ONEE OPGW OSS OTMT PC PIDA PPP PSTN PT TRIS QNBN RAN RCN RRT Middle East and North Africa megahertz Man-Made River Multiprotocol Label Switching Mobile virtual network operator national broadband network, National Broadband Network (Jordan) New partnership for Africa s development National Electricity Power Company (Jordan) Next Generation Backbone Network National Joint Utilities Group Nepad Planning and Coordinating Agency national regulatory authority Nokia Siemens Networks Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Office of Communications (UK ICT regulatory authority) other licensed operators Office Nationale des Chemins de Fer (Moroccan railways company) Office National de l Electricité et de l Eau Potable (Moroccan utility company) optical ground wire operations support system Orascom Telecom Media and Technology personal computer Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa public-private partnership, purchase power parity public switched telephone network Project Team Technical Regulatory Issues (CEPT) Qatar National Broadband Network radio access network regional cable network Ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba (Communications Regulatory Authority, Lithuania) SEA-ME-WE4 South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 optical fiber submarine communications cable system SIIS SMP Security and Intelligent Information Systems, also Information System for Broadband Infrastructure, Poland significant market power

23 Abbreviations xxi SNCFT SNTF SNO SPV STC STE STEG STM Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (Tunisian Railways) la Société nationale du transport ferroviaire (Algerian Railways) second national operator special purpose vehicle Saudi Telecom Company Syrian Telecommunication Establishment Société Tunisienne de l Electricité et du Gaz (Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company) synchronous transmission mode SUBTEL Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (Department of Telecommunications, Chile) Tbps TDD TDMA Telco TGN THT/HT TRA UFB UKE ULL UMTS HSPA us VDSL VNI VoIP WARCIP WB WCDMA Wi-Fi WiMax WLAN xdsl terabits per second Time Division Duplexing time division multiple access telecommunications company Tata Global Network Tres haute tension/ Haute tension Telecommunications Regulatory Authority ultra-fast broadband Urządą Komunikacji Elektronicznej (Office of Electronic Communications, Poland) Unbundling the local loop Universal Mobile Telecommunications System High Speed Packet Access universal service very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line Cisco s Visual Networking Index voice over Internet Protocol West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program World Bank Wideband code division multiple access WLAN products IEEE standards Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access wireless local area network digital subscriber line (of any type)