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Viva, which competes with Zain and Qatar Telecom subsidiary Wataniya, raised 25 million Kuwaiti dinars ($88.57 million) from selling half its shares to Kuwaiti nationals in an IPO in September 2008, launching services later that year.

Based on data from Zain and Wataniya, there were net additions of roughly 205,000 subscribers - or growth of 4.9% q-o-q to reach 4.696mn subscribers

Zain accounted for majority of new subscribers with 64.9% market share of total net additions in Q211. Wataniya had an estimated share of 22.9% of net additions while Viva had 12.2%

Mobile penetration is expected to reach 169% by the end of 2011 and 187.2% by 2015

At the time of writing, the latest data from Zain and Wataniya relate to the end of March 2012 while the latest data published by VIVA relate to end of December 2011.

4.962mn mobile subscribers in Kuwait at the end of December 2011.

11.5% during 2011

Penetrations rates: Fixed line 16.5%, Mobile 141% (number of subscribers reaching 3.56 million and increase of 10.7%, as compared to 3.22 mm subscribers at the end of 2008 according to Kuwait Internet and E-commerce Investment and Business Guide), Internet 41%.

Kuwait is the only country in the gulf without the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA). The regulations are carried out by the Ministry of Communication (MoC), which controls the fixed line and the international gateway for overseas calls. In the last 3 yeas the Ministry has announced plans for establishing the TRA, introducing Mobile Number Portability (MNP), privatize the fixed line operations as well as develop the country's fiber optic infrastructure. These plans have been slow to materialize and further delay is expected putting pressure on the telecom operators.

4.962mn mobile subscribers in Kuwait at the end of December 201