The Public Perception of Telecommunications and Information Technology Services in Yemen

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Hanan Hussein

Communication and Information Technology services form the backbone of life in Yemen, touching various aspects of citizens’ daily lives, eliciting mixed impressions from the public benefiting from these services. Despite the challenges and difficulties faced by the telecommunications sector in Yemen, there is an inevitable outcome confirming that Yemeni society cannot do without communication and information services regardless of the circumstances.

Services Provided

Citizens in Yemen heavily rely on the telecommunications and information sector in all aspects of life and work, utilizing a variety of services related to communication and internet applications. Among these services are communication with relatives and friends through SMS, cellular communications via the existing networks in Yemen, as well as accessing information through the internet, facilitating business, economic, social activities, and other services provided by the telecommunications sector.

Nadeer Abdul-Samad, a computer instructor at one of the institutes, highlights that the internet is one of the prominent services widely used in all areas of life in Yemen, along with communication services regardless of the service provider.

Moreover, Iyad Abdu Saeed, a business administration graduate, mentions that the services associated with the telecommunications sector in Yemen are relatively good and somewhat qualitative given the current situation in our country. However, when compared to neighboring countries, they are considered weak and do not meet global competition standards or keep pace with the ongoing global advancements.

On another note, Nasir Al-Shawsh, a grocery store owner, points out that the weak infrastructure of the telecommunications and information technology sector has had a negative impact on providing sector-related services to the community. The poor coverage is a result of the absence of supply pillars in various regions. Additionally, after the armed conflict, much of the infrastructure was destroyed in different governorates, leading to a decline in sector services.

Public Satisfaction

Iyad Abdu Saeed emphasizes that the telecommunications services were not satisfactory. Currently, available services are not up to par for many citizens due to their continuous interruptions and significant weaknesses most of the time, in addition to the high consumption prices.

On the other hand, Khalid Muhammad, an International Business Administration master’s degree holder, believes that some companies may stand out from others in cellular communication services in several aspects. He relies on a specific company – which he considers the best for him – in terms of offers, packages, and services it provides, compared to competing companies domestically. Khalid adds: “When comparing telecommunications companies in Yemen to others around the world, significant differences in the services provided can be found, proving that telecommunications in Yemen are still far from keeping up with global developments regardless of any reforms that may take place.”

Fatin Al-Saqqaf, an IT engineer, points out that the main advantages of local companies’ services – from her perspective – include the quick response to inquiries and providing solutions to problems that arise at times. However, interruptions still occur almost every two days due to a lack of maintenance in the broadcast splitter, causing tension during service usage.

Advantages

Regarding the advantages, Iyad believes that the most prominent advantage of telecommunications services in Yemen at the moment is the speed of obtaining the required service, especially if the network is strong and quickly activated, regardless of its quality and speed of use in other places. He adds: “Each internet service provider has a specific marketing plan, which may be good and contribute to increasing demand, or it may be bad, leading to a gradual decrease in participation.”

Ahmad Waddah Al-Ahdal, a university student, agrees with him and points out that the most prominent advantages of the services lie in obtaining SIM cards from companies operating in Yemen, with their diverse services. Their customer service can be quick, easy, and impressive. Additionally, most telecommunications companies offer the 4G system, resulting in an overall improvement in terms of speed and coverage. They also provide better package prices and systems. Furthermore, there are applications available that assist in various services, including balance top-up, service subscriptions, and more. Overall, these advancements are highly beneficial.

Disadvantages

Nadeer Abdul-Samad, a communications expert and trainer, identifies a major flaw in the field of communications as the lack of specialization in the field of communications and information technology. This poses a problem for students seeking knowledge in the field. On the other hand, Iyad points out that the main drawbacks lie in the network coverage, which remains weak to this day regardless of the service provider, in addition to the slow internet speed in most areas of Yemen.

Khalid Muhammad adds, “The high cost and price hikes of services provided to the public by various telecommunications companies operating in Yemen are among the most significant challenges, especially given the economic conditions facing Yemeni society these days. Internet packages in Yemen are among the most expensive globally, with exorbitant prices compared to other countries, along with poor service in terms of speed and coverage.”

Meanwhile, Manal Abdallah Hadi, a computer science graduate, highlights countless flaws in the network coverage of communications in rural areas. The rural area where her family resides lacks coverage, making it extremely difficult to communicate with them daily. She faces struggles in maintaining conversations with her family due to poor network quality and sudden disconnections, causing frustration and dissatisfaction with the state of the telecommunications sector in the country.

Fatin Al-Saqqaf points out that despite the continuous lack of maintenance of communication networks and the internet in Yemen, the high prices of available packages for citizens, as well as poor speed, and low service quality, we still benefit from them, albeit minimally. We look forward to improving the service, especially in areas suffering from deficiencies.

Abeer Al-Kamil, a computer science graduate, believes that all local companies operating in Yemen have their own strengths and weaknesses. It is not possible to praise or criticize a telecommunications company in such challenging circumstances our country is going through. However, it cannot be denied that the communication service is still weak, barely allowing messages to be transmitted.

Solutions

From Abeer Al-Kamil’s perspective, the key solutions for the telecommunications sector in Yemen include halting the conflict and working on strengthening networks to better serve citizens across the country. Abeer emphasized the importance of local companies creating additional dedicated lines for certain services, such as the “Student Line” service, which offers students in institutes and universities various unique privileges. Citizens can also benefit from these privileges alongside students, aiding in downloading files and academic materials needed for studying or research, saving them effort and cost with minimal resources. Furthermore, it is essential to develop services in a way that preserves companies’ profits while providing convenient and rewarding services for citizens, ensuring no harm or loss.

Telecommunication services are among the most crucial services in Yemen, facing numerous challenges that impact how the community perceives them. There is hope for future improvements in telecommunication services.