“2007 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka” highlights key statistics and puts into perspective market forces and regulatory issues influencing growth in these sectors.
The report finds that Pakistan has begun to see outstanding growth in its telecom sector in general, and mobile segment in particular with 2006 showing an all-time high in mobile sales. The mobile market garnered 48.2 million subscribers who represented a market penetration of about 31% last year.
Sri Lanka too, has remained committed to a modern, progressive telecommunications set-up been making great strides in development despite the country’s long-standing politically tumultuous atmosphere. This commitment is reflected in the annual growth rate of more than 50% at the beginning of 2007. Compared to other Asian countries, mobile penetration in Sri Lanka at 27% is relatively low, and the study forecasts a strong growth trend that’s likely to be long-lasting.
The report finds that fixed-line teledensity was 6% in 2005, and that low penetration is due to severe supply constraints rather than lack of demand. Up to 400,000 subscribers were waiting for a basic telephone, say analysts. They also note that the Sri Lankan market has benefited from liberalisation and increased competition in the sector as Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is progressively losing its monopoly over a range of services.
Similarly, authors of the report point out that in Maldives, incumbent national telco Dhiraagu, which was pivotal in fashioning the country’s highly advanced telecommunications systems, is being edged out of the driver’s seat by changing government policy which is licensing multiple ISPs and opening up the market.
Afghanistan, in the process of rebuilding infrastructure after years of war and civil unrest, created the Ministry of Communications (MoC) in early 2002 and then the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) in 2005. The study notes that while the country has found it difficult to attract and manage foreign investment, recent changes in the telecom sector and the awarding of new licences, seem to have set the stage for positive change.
Bangladesh has one of the world’s most underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure with almost 99% of homes needing a telephone. Frequent natural diasters like cyclones and floods, as well as sluggish economic reforms contribute to four-year waiting lists for a fixed line telephone, and the lowest fixed-line teledensity in South Asia. In this context the country has had a flourishing mobile market for some years with mobile penetration a little over 14% at end-2006. But these figures are still well below those of its regional neighbours.
“2007 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka” is available from Report Buyer. For more information go to:
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