UAE internet, phone services are among world’s costliest

Country offers one of the cheapest mobile phone services in the Gulf region

The UAE has one of the costliest internet and telephone service in the world despite a series of charges cuts over the past few years, with its broadband fees exceeding those in Europe by a whopping $1700 a month.

“Telecommunications services in the UAE are far costlier than those in Europe,” the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said in a report published on Thursday by the UAE Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum.

“There is a big price gap between the UAE and Europe especially in high-speed broadband services, which could reach $1700 a month.”

Internet charges in the UAE are also the highest in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) while the country offers one of the cheapest mobile phone services in the GCC and other Arab nations.

Another report by the Cairo-based Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET), which groups 15 government telecom regulators in the region, found that fixed-line telephone services for business purposes in the UAE are “very costly” while residential telephone services are much less costly.

The report noted that the UAE is among only four Arab countries that operate high-speed broadband services.

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Comments

  • Kaif 23 February 2012 13:58 9 0
    At last they have noticed! I've been complaining time and again that phone and internet rates in UAE are ridiculously high.
  • Saju 23 February 2012 13:04 6 5
    Comparing to India also, UAE rates are so high.
  • Allen 23 February 2012 12:57 8 3
    In US unlimited high speed internet is $40 a month (AED 150).
  • Anand Narasimhalu 23 February 2012 12:50 5 1
    From India if your make a call to UAE it cost Rs.9.60 (Less than Dh1 a minute), but if you call from here there are so many rates for pre-paid, post-paid which confuses customers a lot.
  • Ziplomatic 23 February 2012 11:40 10 1
    Well covered Emirates 24|7! It is really a matter of concern with the pricing of telecom services! Something must be done about it!
  • Sam August 23 February 2012 11:27 12 2
    Why stop there? What about electricity and water? How does that compare to the rest of the GCC or the world? We could rent a flat in another country with the Dewa charges. And fuel charges as well.
  • John 23 February 2012 09:32 15 2
    Agree! In France 16 Euros/month (AED75) for unlimited telephone text message and internet national. Etisalat I pay min AED800 excluding international calls... as for the TV + Internet (optic fiber) + Landline 29 Euros a month (AED150)... with Du I pay AED720 and don't even have sports package or fast internet. :-)

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