تنافسية قطاع الاتصالات و تقنية المعلومات في الدول العربية

Abstract EN

Telecommunications and Information Technology represent one of the pillars to what is known as “The Economics of Knowledge” and an effective element in the development and promotion of competitiveness capabilities.

This paper intended to explore the competitiveness of the Arab telecommunications & information technology sector in relation to those of other countries through determining the areas of strength and weakness and inferring in turn the appropriate policies for the development of the sector.

The study included analyses of the different performance and efficiency indices of the sector as well as analyses of regulations and market structures governing the sector along with their role in enhancing the contribution of the sector to the competitiveness capabilities of Arab economies.

The results of the study indicated the presence of wide gaps among Arab countries on one hand and between the group of Arab counties and other countries on the other hand with respect to the various performance indices, and as well provided statistical evidence to support the significance of these indices in the determination of countries competitiveness.

In relation to regulation and competition, the paper first noted the weakness of regulations and absence of competition in the Arab telecom markets, and then provided empirical results to confirm the role of regulation and competition in increasing penetration rates, reducing access costs, and improving the quality of services in the telecommunications & information technology sector.