Yemen’s Telecommunications Sector: Government and Civil Society Share Responsibility in an Integrated Approach

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Afrah Borji

The telecommunications sector is considered a fundamental pillar of Yemen’s national economy. Despite its economic and social importance, the performance of Yemen’s telecommunications sector has significantly declined compared to regional and global trends in terms of access, quality, and costs. This was highlighted in the Yemen Telecommunications Sector Reform Report for the year 2023.

The report also indicates that many citizens take on the responsibility of participation by using and supporting Yemeni services, as well as contributing to their development, to enhance their sustainability. Building awareness of the value and effectiveness of this sector is encouraged by promoting optimal usage within the community. Yemeni societal roles towards the telecommunications sector include joining initiatives and emphasizing its importance in boosting the national economy.

In this regard, lawyer Khaled Al-Nasser states, “Social responsibility towards Yemen’s telecommunications sector lies in collaborating with government entities to develop and protect it from any attacks or sabotage, as the telecommunications sector serves as the vital lifeline for all sectors in countries worldwide. Given the significance of the telecommunications sector, any acts of sabotage would impact the general public as a whole.”

Community contribution aims to enhance the capacity of local authorities and other communities to engage and provide insights into the challenges faced by service sectors in the country, including the telecommunications sector. It also focuses on identifying priorities that aim to facilitate comprehensive economic, social, and security recovery from all aspects, thereby strengthening the process of comprehensive peacebuilding.

Limited Role

Community participation aims to improve the provision of essential services to society and work towards enhancing local safety and security approaches. This is achieved through local discussions with experts in important service fields that benefit the community, identifying strengths and weaknesses in those services, and partnering with all stakeholders to improve services at the local level.

Observers believe that the role of the community in promoting the telecommunications sector in Yemen is almost nonexistent. All official entities control decisions related to sector development. Therefore, there should be collective efforts from all relevant stakeholders and community members to develop the telecommunications sector, which first and foremost fulfills the community’s need for communication, connectivity, and awareness of the world and its affairs. It also serves the needs of companies, institutions, and private entities aiming to promote economic development in these challenging circumstances. 

Regarding the weak role played by the telecommunications sector in Yemen, Shaher Saad, a writer, human rights activist, and advisor to civil society organizations, adds: “We can almost conclude that the telecommunications sector requires much more maintenance and development than it currently receives, due to damages and neglect of regular maintenance. This has resulted in significant challenges in meeting the citizens’ needs, making it one of the worst services globally. However, we have no alternative for communication with people.”

Saad also highlights that Yemeni society is isolated and marginalized from any role or participation in technology, information, and the telecommunications sector, except to a limited extent. Telecommunications and information services in Yemen have transitioned from being service-oriented with nominal and affordable prices to becoming profit-driven and monopolistic in various ways, taking advantage of the country’s overall situation.

In comparison with other countries in general and Yemen in particular, Saad explains that every country in the world has a collaborative role between official entities, national capital, and civil society represented by the people in serving the community and developing its essential services. These services are integral and necessary components. In Yemen, however, there is exclusion and marginalization of citizens’ rights in the telecommunications sector to the extreme, as it is exploited in the most heinous manner by some Yemeni telecommunications companies.

Responsibility

According to economic reports, the telecommunications and information technology sector, after achieving the peace process, should involve everyone in the process of developing infrastructure in various provinces. It should also enhance the role of the private sector, encourage competition in the local market, break monopolies, allow competing companies to offer diverse services through mobile and Internet service providers, and develop studies and development plans that contribute to serving the community.

Journalist Safaa Al-Sadawi noted that the Yemeni society bears the responsibility of motivating the relevant entities to take the necessary measures to improve the communication infrastructure, provide high-quality services to citizens, maintain the required privacy for beneficiaries and users, and avoid involving them in endless disputes and problems. The Yemeni society should also support entrepreneurs and local companies in this sector by providing the necessary financial, technical, and technological support to facilitate their tasks in providing innovative ideas that contribute to the speed of communication services.

In the same context, journalist Marwa Al-Areeqi says, “The society is a fundamental partner with the state in preserving public properties, most notably the telecommunications sector, which is now the cornerstone of people’s lives. There is no person who does not use any means of communication, whether a landline, mobile phone, or Internet service.”

Al-Areeqi also explains that for these services to continue with high quality, citizens must regularly pay their bills and use these means in legitimate ways according to the law. On the other hand, the state should strive to provide high-quality services at reasonable prices or open the field for the private sector to offer competitive offers that can help the oppressed citizen.

Community Efforts

There are significant community efforts highlighted by journalist Amatalrazzaq Al-Qazahi, efforts that telecommunications institutions take into consideration in the development of the Yemeni telecommunications sector. This plays an important role in development, but cooperation should not be limited to addressing challenges only. It should also aim to benefit from the services provided by telecommunications institutions.

Al-Qazahi adds, “Telecommunications institutions operating in the sector should create awareness, monitoring, construction, and education for the community regarding how to use the Internet and exploit it in beneficial ways, such as browsing educational websites, pursuing distance learning and attending educational courses, among other things. On the other hand, families should monitor their children, guide them, and provide proper guidance in Internet usage.”

She also explains that the Internet in Yemen may not be as reliable as in other countries, primarily due to the obstacles and challenges faced by the country in its unstable situation. This has led to poor Internet performance. Additionally, the lack of utilizing modern technology to enhance communication services, ongoing conflicts that have destroyed the telecommunications infrastructure partially or completely, and the absence of competitive companies that foster competition to improve communication services in Yemen, all contribute to this issue.

The Yemeni society suffers from a significant gap in terms of community participation, lacking effective mechanisms that enable individuals to express their opinions and participate in addressing the issues that concern them. Communication tools, especially the Internet, are crucial means that the community can utilize to express opinions and engage with various stakeholders.

However, the poor Internet service in Yemen, particularly in rural areas, significantly hampers the community’s ability to participate actively. As communication becomes more challenging due to weak telecommunications and Internet services in some regions, the opportunities for youth to contribute to their society and achieve their dreams diminish. Addressing this phenomenon and improving Internet services in Yemen is a collective responsibility shared by the government, civil society, and the private sector. It requires raising awareness among individuals in the community about the importance of community participation in various social issues.