Telecom sector last place

Lebanon has least competitive cellular market in the Arab world

July 4, 2011- Lebanon’s telecom market ranked in 19th place among 19 countries in the Arab world according to the Cellular Competition Intensity Index for 2011, unchanged from 2010.

The index rates the intensity level of competition in the region's cellular markets by comparing the state of every market relative to the other markets.

The country had been ranked in the 15th place in 2007 and the 11th place in 2006.

The index, designed by the Arab Advisors Group, takes into account 9 categories, with each category assigned a weight based on its importance as an indicator of competitive behavior. The categories include the number of licensed and expected operators in 2011, the number of working operators, the market share of the largest operator, the number of prepaid plans, the number of post-paid plans, the availability of smart phone plans, the availability of corporate offers, the availability of 3G services, and the availability of international long distance competition.