Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services are the cheapest in Morocco and the most expensive in Iraq in the Arab world, according to a new report from Arab Advisors Group (AAG).

AAG analysed the residential ADSL rates in 19 Arab countries. Iraq and Sudan have the highest average ADSL fees, while Morocco and Tunisia have the lowest fees.

When rates are analysed in relation to GDP per capita in each country, the GCC countries lead in 'affordability' of the service, AAG said.

ADSL remains the prevailing fixed broadband technology in the Arab World. Uptake is strong in most countries especially as ISPs launch promotions and reduce their rates, it said.

The Arab Advisors Group has analysed the ADSL service provision and rates in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

The analysis revealed that the 1024 Kbps speed is the most common speed offered by ISPs in the Arab World. The total annual cost of residential ADSL services (for the average 1024 kbps speed) ranges from a minimum of $146 per year in Morocco to a maximum of $5,133 per year in Iraq.

Libya and Oman do not have the 1024 Kbps ADSL speed, however, the ranking for the country is based on extrapolating from its rates of other speeds, it said.

The 41-page report, “ADSL Rates in the Arab World: A Regional Comparison 2011” can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for $ 1200.

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the ADSL rates offered by the main ISPs in the Arab countries in November 2011. Moreover, the report details the availability of download speeds in each country.

When including the GDP per capita in the analysis, the Arab Advisors Group devised the ADSL Affordability Measure (AAM). Basically, the total annual cost of ADSL in a country was calculated as a percentage of that country’s GDP per capita, whereby the higher the ratio the less affordable the service is in that country.

“The countries that led ADSL Affordability Measure (AAM) were the GCC countries. Although they do not have the lowest rates, but they do have the highest GDP per capita, this is one reason why operators there do not reduce rates drastically as demand is guaranteed even at relatively higher rates,” Hussam Barhoush, Arab Advisors Group’s project manager said. – TradeArabia News Service