Kuwait, a small, oil-rich country located in the Middle East, has a total land area of 17,818 square kilometres, making it one of the smallest countries in the world. The population of approximately 4.3 million is largely concentrated in urban areas, with the capital, Kuwait City, being the major population centre. The country is relatively flat, with its most prominent point, Mutla Ridge, standing at just 142 metres above sea level (although not the highest point in elevation). Kuwait's telecommunications infrastructure is advanced, with widespread access to high-speed internet and mobile services. The government has invested heavily in digital infrastructure as part of its 'New Kuwait 2035' vision, which aims to transform the country into a regional hub for ICT. Kuwait also boasts a well-developed road network and international airport, crucial for the movement of goods and people. In terms of energy, Kuwait has traditionally relied on oil but has made significant strides in recent years to diversify its energy sources, with solar power projects emerging as a key component of this strategy. These projects are part of a broader government effort to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's energy mix to 15% by 2030. Nevertheless, the development of these sectors, particularly renewables, is still ongoing.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Ooredoo in Kuwait, formerly known as Wataniya Telecom, is the second largest mobile carrier in the country, and a member of the Qatari-owned Ooredoo Group. Commercially launched in December 1999, the company provides mobile, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of customers and businesses. Wataniya Telecom rebranded to Ooredoo in 2014 after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) in 2012.
The parent company, Ooredoo QSC, was founded in 1987 in Doha, initially as a telephone exchange company. It has since grown into a large telecommunications...
STC Kuwait, a subsidiary of the Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC), operates within the telecommunications sector in Kuwait. The company was established as Kuwait Telecom Company, and originally trading as VIVA Kuwait. STC Kuwait provides a range of telecommunications services, including mobile, broadband and cloud computing. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Telecom Company Group and began its commercial service in December 2008.
Zain Kuwait, officially known as Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C.P., is a Kuwait-based mobile telecommunications company. Its establishment dates back to 1983, when it was initially known as MTC (Mobile Telecommunications Company). The company underwent a rebranding process in 2007 and took on its current name, Zain. The ownership of Zain Kuwait is distributed among several entities. The Kuwait Investment Authority holds a significant share of 24.6%, while Omantel owns 21.9%. Other shareholders are undisclosed unless they own more than 5% of the company. Zain Group has a commercial...