Cullen International’s newly updated NGA deployments benchmark shows that all of the 13 studied countries in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) have started to deploy fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks. In some countries, investment in FTTH networks has been supported by the state, while in others the private sector contributed significantly.

In all countries except Jordan, fixed incumbents are still partially or fully owned by the state. These operators lead the implementation of national broadband policies, including the deployment of FTTH networks.

Some countries took further steps to support FTTH deployment, such as Bahrain and Oman, where the state supported the establishment of national fibre companies to enhance FTTH deployment.

In Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Türkiye, the private sector significantly contributed to FTTH deployment.

FTTH coverage by operators varies between countries. For instance, Bnet in Bahrain decommissioned its copper network so that it now provides only a broadband and fibre network. Some operators in Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates achieved more than 90% household coverage while in other countries operators are still in an early stage of FTTH deployment. 

Wholesale-only FTTH network operators exist in seven MENA countries, with some of those operators privately owned while others were supported or established by the state.

Find additional details and information in our benchmark on NGA deployment by operators in 13 MENA countries: Click on “Access the full content” - or on “Request Access”, in case you are not subscribed to our MENA Telecoms service.