Syria, situated in the Western Asia region, is characterised by diverse geographical features including the Mediterranean coast, mountain ranges, and wide deserts, which can pose challenges to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive telecommunications and technology infrastructure. The population is unevenly distributed, with high concentrations in urban areas such as Damascus and Aleppo, and less densely populated regions in the northeast and central desert areas. Infrastructure solutions have been predominantly focused on urban centres, leading to a disparity in access to technologies and telecommunications between urban and rural populations. Territories such as the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel, and Rojava, run by Kurdish groups, further complicate the country's advancements. Syria's technology sector is largely underdeveloped due to ongoing conflicts, with a heavy reliance on outdated infrastructure. Innovations are limited, but there is potential for growth in the renewable energy sector, specifically solar power, given the country's abundant sunshine. The telecommunications sector, while functional, still relies on outdated landline infrastructure, with internet access primarily available in major cities.

ITU Region
Region-1
Geographic Region
Regulatory Body
Syrian Telecommunication Regulatory Authority SyTRA
Syria world map

Mobile Network Operators

The are 2 companies operating mobile networks in this region.

MTN logo
MTN Syria, previously known as "Areeba", is a prominent telecommunications operator in Syria, providing both GSM and 3.5G broadband 4G (LTE) services. It is one of only two mobile operators in the country, alongside Syriatel. In terms of ownership, MTN Syria was a subsidiary of the MTN Group, a South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications company. However, in 2020, MTN Group sold its remaining 75% stake in MTN Syria to TeleInvest Ltd, a Saudi-owned entity. This resulted in TeleInvest Ltd, which already held a 25% stake in the company, becoming the primary shareholder of MTN Syria...
Country

Syriatel is a major telecommunications network provider in Syria, established in January 2000. The company operates from its headquarters located in Damascus. The Syrian Government granted two private firms, including Syriatel, licenses to supply mobile phone services under a Build-own-transfer (BOT) contract that lasted for 15 years. Syriatel introduced 4G speeds in 2017, offering speeds of up to 150 Mb/s under the brand name Super Surf.

The ownership of Syriatel lies with Rami Makhlouf, a relative of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. A significant event in the company's history...

Country