UAE broadband rates among world’s highest

dubai — The UAE has one of the most expensive broadband rates globally despite the fact that the country has one of the highest Internet penetration rates as well.

Among the world’s 196 countries, the UAE has been ranked among the top ten most expensive countries for broadband pricing at $155.18 (Dh569.50) per month, reveals data analysed by BDRC Continental and Cable.co.uk.

The report measured seven UAE packages on September 9, 2017, which rated the UAE as the most expensive in the GCC for broadband rates. Meanwhile, other GCC countries also charge very high rates for broadband with Saudi Arabia at $84, Bahrain at $104.90, Oman at $147.80 and Qatar at $149.40. GCC rates are much higher than the global average broadband rates of $74.8 per month. The UAE boasts one of the highest Internet penetration rates at 92 per cent with 8.5 million residents having access, according to internetlivestats.com.

According to Telecommunication Regulatory Authority statistics, the UAE had 1.32 million broadband subscriptions in August 2017 as compared to 1.27 million at the end of August 2016.

As expected, broadband charges are highest among the Sub-Sahara African nations with Burkina Faso ($977), Papua New Guinea ($597), Namibia ($436), Brunei ($269), Lao People’s Democratic Republic ($231), Haiti ($224), Cayman Island ($175), Cook Islands ($174), Zimbabwe ($170) and Mali ($166), a BDRC Continental and Cable.co.uk report says.

Rather than the usual Western European or Scandinavian countries dominating the global rankings, Iran and the Commonwealth of Independent States surprisingly leaped to the top 10 of the rankings.

Iran charges a mere $5.37 for broadband — the lowest in the world — followed by Ukraine ($5.45), Russia ($10), Moldova ($10.77), Syria ($12.15), Egypt ($12.40), Belarus ($12.70), Romania ($13.70), Kazakhstan ($13.70) and Georgia ($16.80). — waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com