Perspectives on Perspectives on international international

communications in the communications in the Mediterranean basinMediterranean basin

IGU IGU

Mediterranean Renaissance Mediterranean Renaissance Program (MRP) WorkshopProgram (MRP) Workshop

Rome, February 2009Rome, February 2009

QuestionQuestion

What is the geographical pattern of What is the geographical pattern of international telecommunications in international telecommunications in the Mediterranean basin?the Mediterranean basin?

Can the Mediterranean basin be Can the Mediterranean basin be considered a single, well-integrated, considered a single, well-integrated, information space?information space?

National information societiesNational information societies

National information societies are National information societies are growingly based on the adoption and growingly based on the adoption and use of information technologies in all use of information technologies in all spheres of life, leading to: enhanced spheres of life, leading to: enhanced interpersonal communications; interpersonal communications; extended uses of information; and an extended uses of information; and an increasing production of knowledge.increasing production of knowledge.

National information societies: National information societies: Measurement levels of IT adoption Measurement levels of IT adoption

and useand use National:National: Comparative national Comparative national

measures (e.g. mobile telephones per measures (e.g. mobile telephones per population).population).

Intra-national:Intra-national: Interregional Interregional digital digital dividedivide or or digital gapdigital gap (e.g. Internet (e.g. Internet penetration by region).penetration by region).

International:International: International information International information interaction (e.g. telephone calls to other interaction (e.g. telephone calls to other countries).countries).

DataData

Complex patterns of Complex patterns of international communications international communications with the introduction of e-mail, with the introduction of e-mail, mobile telephony and VoIP.mobile telephony and VoIP.

Data on common-carrier fixed-Data on common-carrier fixed-line communications collected by line communications collected by TelegeographyTelegeography..

Possible patterns for international Possible patterns for international telecommunicationstelecommunications

PatternPatternCall destinationsCall destinations

Traditional Traditional (T)(T)Neighboring Neighboring countriescountries

Global Global (G)(G)G8 countriesG8 countries

Contemporary Contemporary (C)(C)Wide selection of Wide selection of countriescountries

Mixed Mixed (M)(M)Neighboring and G8 Neighboring and G8 countriescountries

Possible patterns for intl. telecom. in the Possible patterns for intl. telecom. in the Mediterranean basinMediterranean basin

Call patternCall patternCall destinationsCall destinationsGeog. Med. Geog. Med. patternpattern

Traditional Traditional (T)(T)Neighboring Neighboring countriescountries

1. Adjacency1. Adjacency

2. One-way2. One-way

cross sea So. Tocross sea So. To

No., Ea. to We.No., Ea. to We.

Global Global (G)(G)G8 countriesG8 countriesG8 countriesG8 countries

Contemporary Contemporary (C)(C)

Wide selection Wide selection of countriesof countries

Two-way cross Two-way cross seasea

Mixed Mixed (M)(M)Neighboring and Neighboring and G8 countriesG8 countries

Neighboring and Neighboring and G8 countriesG8 countries

Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of

total minutes) (total minutes) (Telegeography,Telegeography, 97/98; 2007) 97/98; 2007)

CountryCountry1996199620062006

Cyprus Cyprus (T)(T)UKUK (25.3); (25.3); GRGR (23.9); (23.9); RURU (5.0) (5.0)

GRGR (25.0); (25.0); UKUK (23.5); (23.5); RURU (5.2) (5.2)

France France

(T=>C)(T=>C)DEDE (11.0); (11.0); UKUK (10.9); (10.9); ITIT (8.6) (8.6)

UKUK (7.4); (7.4); MOMO (7.2); (7.2); DEDE (6.8) (6.8)

Greece Greece

(G =>M)(G =>M)DEDE (17.4); (17.4); UKUK (13.8); (13.8); ITIT (8.9) (8.9)

ALAL (14.9); (14.9); DEDE (12.6); (12.6); UKUK (12.3) (12.3)

Italy Italy

(G(G =>M)=>M)DEDE (16.8); (16.8); FRFR (11.8); (11.8); USUS (9.1) (9.1)

DEDE (9.0); (9.0); FRFR (7.9); (7.9); UKUK (5.3) (5.3)

Spain Spain (T)(T)DEDE (15.7); (15.7); FRFR (15.4); (15.4); UKUK (14.3) (14.3)

UKUK (11.3); (11.3); DEDE (10.5); (10.5); FRFR (9.4) (9.4)

Turkey Turkey (G)(G)DEDE (33.5); (33.5); UKUK (8.5); (8.5); USUS (5.9) (5.9)

DEDE (30.4); (30.4); UKUK (9.7); (9.7); USUS (5.7) (5.7)

Euro-Med. countries: Euro-Med. countries: 1996-2006 trends1996-2006 trends

In 1996 only two patterns (T and G); In 1996 only two patterns (T and G); in 2006 all four: change in 3 out of 6 in 2006 all four: change in 3 out of 6 countries.countries.

Early international Mediterranean Early international Mediterranean ties emerge (France and Greece).ties emerge (France and Greece).

Immigration and tourism as Immigration and tourism as reshaping forces of international reshaping forces of international communications ties.communications ties.

Non Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone Non Euro-Med. countries outgoing intl. telephone minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of minutes: Most frequently called countries (in % of

total minutes) (total minutes) (Telegeography,Telegeography, 97/98; 2007) 97/98; 2007)

CountryCountry1996199620062006

Egypt (1998)Egypt (1998)SASA (15.7); (15.7); USUS (10.8); (10.8); UKUK (10.7) (10.7)

(M)(M)

SASA (25.6); (25.6); USUS (11.0); (11.0); AEAE (9.0) (9.0) (M)(M)

IsraelIsraelUSUS (32.4); (32.4); UKUK (9.1); (9.1); CACA (7.4) (7.4) (G)(G)

USUS (26.3); (26.3); UKUK (7.6); (7.6); RURU (6.0) (6.0) (G)(G)

Morocco (1998)Morocco (1998)FRFR (44.3); (44.3); ESES (9.5); (9.5); ITIT (5.7) (5.7) (G)(G)

N/AN/A

Syria (1997; 2005)Syria (1997; 2005)LBLB (26.0); (26.0); SASA (15.6); (15.6); AEAE (6.6) (6.6) (T)(T)

LBLB (39.5); (39.5); SASA (21.0); (21.0); AEAE

(10.2) (10.2) (T)(T)

Non-Euro-Med. countries: Non-Euro-Med. countries: 1996-2006 trends1996-2006 trends

More complex macro trends.More complex macro trends. The role of culture.The role of culture. Changing patterns?Changing patterns?

ConclusionConclusion

International telephone calls through International telephone calls through common carriers: From dominance to common carriers: From dominance to sharing with other channels/media.sharing with other channels/media.

Lack of data.Lack of data. A division of the Med. basin into EU A division of the Med. basin into EU

and non-EU countries?and non-EU countries?