Analysis, Markets, Arab Advisors, UAE, Saudi Arabia: The Arab Advisors Group publishes a yearly update on the rates of connectivity within the various Arab countries. this year broadband and fixed services have played their part alongside mobile in fueling substantial improvements in connectivity rates.

The annual results of Arab Advisors Group's Total Country Connectivity Measure (TCCM) reveal substantial improvements in overall scores. Refreshingly, some improvements in the national scores came from fixed and broadband services growth and not just cellular growth.

These findings were released at the 5th Annual Media and Telecoms Convergence Conference's inaugural day on June 2, 2008. The conference was attended by 460 delegates from 144 companies spanning 25 countries.

The United Arab Emirates emerges as the most connected country in the Arab World according to the TCCM. The Arab Advisors Group, a member of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank Group, calculates the TCCM by adding the household mainlines penetration, cellular penetration and Internet users penetration rates in each country.

Jordanian Minister of ICT Engineer Basem Rousan reviewed the progress made: "Convergence presents us with a great opportunity that the media and telecom business can greatly benefit from, as new sources of revenue are emerging... The government is committed to providing a flexible legislative and regulatory environment that nurtures competitiveness and reflects the growing convergence in the ICT sector".

Eng Rousan also congratulated the Arab Advisors Group on: "the growing success of this leading event" and indicated "Jordan's standing as a key player in the regional ICT sector, a role that is further demonstrated by hosting the 12th session of the Arab Council of ICT Ministers in Amman on the heels of the Media and Telecom convergence conference".

UAE's TCCM score of 329.5% availed the country the first rank in the Arab World. Other countries ranked as follows:

• Bahrain - 210.4%
• Saudi Arabia - 207.9%
• Qatar - 193.1%
• Kuwait - 164.7%
• Libya - 162.0%
• Oman - 153.7%
• Jordan - 133.9%
• Algeria - 130.7%
• Lebanon - 124.6%
• Tunisia - 122.7%
• Syria - 122.5%
• Egypt - 111.6%
• Morocco - 106.6%
• Palestine - 90.5%
• Iraq - 77.2%
• Mauritania - 54.5%
• Yemen - 47.2%
• Sudan - 28.9%

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