Telecommunications sector, keystone to Arab regional complemntarity, minister

Telecommunications sector is keystone to the Arab regional complementarity, said Thursday, Morocco's Minister-Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of General and Economic Affairs, Rachid Talbi Alami.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 28th the Arab Organisation for Satellite Telecommunications (ARABSAT) general assembly, the minister said telecommunications sector is called to reduce the digital gap between the South and the North noting that ARABSAT project contributed to convey the Arab point of view to the world through broadcasting Arab TV programs.

The minister said the kingdom liberalised the telecommunications sector and widened the number of beneficiaries as the North African country boasts some 10 million mobile phone customers, 1.3 million subscribers to the land phone and over 125,000 Internet subscribers, including 80,000 in ADSL and high-speed internet connection.

ARABSAT project recorded a net benefit of US$ 61 million in 2004, a jump of 27% compared to 2003.