A Year Later still how outrageously expensive
is ETISALAT, the monopoly Internet Service Provider
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ?
Etisalat and its subsidiaries, Emirates Internet and Multimedia (EIM) and eCompany
possibly have the undistinguished position of being amongst the most expensive
Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the developed world.
They are also one of the most profitable companies in the world for their paid up capital.
Take a look here at what a Business Internet connection costs in the U.A.E. for
a 24 hour connection 30 days a month with a download of 1GB per day.
Code:
1 56K DU 30x[(19h x 1.80/h)+(5h x 1.00/h)]+ D 50 = D 1,226 = $ 335/m UnLtd
2 64/64K ISDN DU 30x[(19h x 1.80/h)+(5h x 1.00/h)]+ D 50 = D 1,226 = $ 335/m UnLtd
3 128/128K ISDN DU 30x[(19h x 3.60/h)+(5h x 2.00/h)]+ D 50 = D 2,252 = $ 615/m UnLtd
4 384/128K ADSL SU Discontinued
5 384/128K ADSL MU Discontinued
6 512/128K ADSL MU (04GB Free) (Dhs 100/GB x 26GB) + D 295 = D 2,895 = $ 790/m Ltd
7 512/128K ADSL MU (10GB Free) (Dhs 100/GB x 20GB) + D 595 = D 2,595 = $ 710/m Ltd
8 1M/256K ADSL MU (16GB Free) (Dhs 100/GB x 14GB) + D 895 = D 2,295 = $ 625/m Ltd
9 2M/256K ADSL MU (24GB Free) (Dhs 100/GB x 06GB) + D1,295 = D 1,895 = $ 515/m Ltd
10 64K ISDN LAN (1,000 inst) (LSD,Ltd) 30x(24hx6.00/h)+D 500= D 4,820 = $1,315/m Ltd
11 64K ISDN LAN (1,000 inst) (LSD,Unltd) = D 3,000 = $ 820/m UnLtd
12 128K Leased (2,000 inst) = D 2,900 = $ 790/m UnLtd
13 256K Leased (4,000 inst) = D 4,950 = $1,350/m UnLtd
14 512K Leased (4,000 inst) = D 8,820 = $2,405/m UnLtd
15 1M Leased (4,000 inst) = D14,200 = $3,870/m UnLtd
16 2M Leased (4,000 inst) = D23,550 = $6,420/m UnLtd
K = Kbps M = Mbps DU = dial up SU = single user Unltd = Unlimited Downloads
h = hour /h = per hour /m = per month Ltd = Limited Downloads MU = multi user
D = Dirhams $ = US$ LSD = Leased inst = installation charge
All information taken from Etisalat's eComany's Internet Access Business Solutions. It's a little confusing to immediatly see what is going on in the limited space above. Here is the summary:
Code:
[size=8]
Connection Cost per month Download Amount
========== ============== ===============
1 56K Modem Dial Up Dhs. 1,226 ($ 335) Unlimited
2 64K / 64K ISDN Dial Up Dhs. 1,226 ($ 335) Unlimited
3 128K / 128K ISDN Dial Up Dhs. 2,252 ($ 615) Unlimited *****
4 384K / 128K ADSL Single Discontinued
5 384K / 128K ADSL Multi Discontinued
6 512K / 128K ADSL Multi Dhs. 2,895 ($ 790) Limited 30 GB
7 512K / 128K ADSL Multi Dhs. 2,595 ($ 710) Limited 30 GB
8 1M / 256K ADSL Multi Dhs. 2,295 ($ 625) Limited 30 GB
9 2M / 256K ADSL Multi Dhs. 1,895 ($ 515) Limited 30 GB *****
10 64K / 64K ISDN LAN Dhs. 4,820 ($1,315) Limited 30 GB
11 64K / 64K ISDN LAN Dhs. 3,000 ($ 820) Unlimited
12 128K / 128K LEASED Dhs. 2,900 ($ 790) Unlimited
13 256K LEASED Dhs. 4,950 ($1,350) Unlimited
14 512K LEASED Dhs. 8,820 ($2,405) Unlimited
15 1M LEASED Dhs. 14,200 ($3,870) Unlimited
16 2M LEASED Dhs. 23,550 ($6,420) Unlimited
[/size]
From the above information, one can see that the best/worst options to choose for the given criteria of 1GB per day for a 24 hour/7 day a week, connection per month is option:
Cheapest & Best:
#9 - 2M/256K ADSL which costs US$515 per month.
#3 - 128/128Kbps ISDN dial up which costs US$615 per month.
Most Expensive & Worst:
#10 - 64/64K ISDN LAN which costs $1,315
# 6 - 512/128K ADSL $790
Note: You would not realistically be able to download 1GB a day with a 64K ISDN connection.
All this is in a country whose leaders in government have pushed hard for eBusiness, b2b commerce, having a strong online presence, eGovernment, and have had the vision and drive to set up the successful Dubai Internet City.
Meanwhile the monopoly ISP, Etisalat, drags the whole effort down with it's non-competitive pricing, substandard bandwidth allocations.
Due to World Trade Organizations agreements, there should be competition arriving during the coming months. That is of course if Etisalat plays fair and allows the new ISPs to set up at all.
It is not difficult to imagine that Etisalat will be doing all it can to make it as difficult as possible for its customers to switch to other Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Meanwhile business suffer competitive disadvantages due to the expensive cost of what is now a necessary and usually cheaply available service.
Another disappointingly glaring example of economic development being hampered by the continued existence of an exploitive monopoly.
Read about how:
Etisalat cheats customers of Bandwidth
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