Asian Telecommunications Country Reports
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is finally seizing the chance to start a recovery process, after
many years of war. Telecommunications will certainly play a big role in
rebuilding the country’s shattered economy and society. This report
looks at the current telecoms infrastructure and the steps taken to
provide a properly functioning basic network with national coverage.
Armenia
Armenia’s telecommunications sector is small but growing. With over
700,000 fixed-line subscribers for a population of nearly 4 million people,
the level of investment in infrastructure and new services has begun to increase.
Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan economy has been markedly stronger in recent years and, not
surprisingly, the country is making progress in developing its telecoms sector.
The Ministry of Communications & Information Technologies (MCIT), as well as
being an operator through its role in Aztelekom, is both a policy-maker and
regulator. A boom in oil and gas exports has boosted the local economy.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the poorest, most densely populated, least developed
countries in the world. Apart from its lowly economic status, major impediments
to growth have included frequent cyclones and floods and the slow implementation
of much-needed economic reforms.
Bhutan
Until relatively recently, Bhutan was isolated in terms of its telecommunications
capability, the country’s mountainous landscape having been a barrier to the
development of any sort of infrastructure. Whilst Bhutan had a basic
connection to the outside world as early as 1974, with the introduction of
trunk calls between Bhutan and India, it was not until 1999, that television,
satellite dishes and Internet services started to appear.
Brunei
Brunei, with its relatively high annual GDP per capita, is a strong consumer of
telecommunications services. There is an eagerness to have the most modern
infrastructure available. This report looks at how the sultanate is trying to
meet the demand for telecom services and, in particular, how it is addressing
the need to restructure and generally liberalise the industry to achieve this.
Brunei and Singapore - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband 2008 Report
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in
telecommunications and digital media markets in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
Subjects covered include: Key Statistics, Market and Industry Overviews, Regulatory
Environment, Major Players (fixed and mobile), Infrastructure, Mobile Voice and
Data Markets, Internet, VoIP, IPTV, Broadband (DSL, cable, FttH, wireless), as well
as Convergence and Digital Media. Read complete summary.
Cambodia
Cambodia has a flourishing mobile market and, in relative terms, a progressively
diminishing fixed-line market. There is a huge discrepancy between the number
of mobile subscribers compared with fixed-line subscribers, the former totalling
more than 1.5 million by end-2006, while fixed lines remained at less than 45,000.
China - Key Statistics and Telecommunications Market Report
The Chinese telecom market is the largest in the world. China is making real
strides in becoming an advanced telecommunications market. Telecommunications
development figures prominently in the nation’s priority scheme as China
readies itself for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Timor
Leste
The newly independent East Timor is in the process of rebuilding its entire
infrastructure after the turbulence that ensued after the referendum of 1999.
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) provided
overall administrative and financial assistance during the transition period
until April 2002. Telstra operated telecommunications services until Timor
Telecom, took over in March 2003.
Georgia
The telecommunications sector in Georgia had been characterised for a long
time by outmoded and inadequate infrastructure resulting from under-investment
over decades. However, there has been a marked upward trend in the country’s
telecom market of late, with rising revenues and increased capital investment.
Mobile services, in particular, have become increasingly important, especially
given the poor fixed-line network (particularly in rural and remote areas).
Hong
Kong
The extensive roll out of sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure has
allowed Hong Kong to move quickly in providing around 75% of all households with
access to broadband connectivity. This has been accompanied by rapid growth in
the Internet market. Broadband Internet subscriptions well and truly surpassed
dial-up subscriptions since 2005. There were in excess of 4.8 million Internet
users in the territory, gaining access using either dial-up or broadband in 2007.
India
India continues to be one of the fastest growing major telecom markets in the world.
Sweeping reforms introduced by successive Indian governments over the last decade
have dramatically changed the nature of telecommunications in the country. The
mobile sector has grown from around 10 million subscribers in 2002 to 150 million
by the start of 2007. While GSM technology still dominates the mobile market,
CDMA has quickly grabbed almost 30% share. The mobile industry should continue
to boom. Fixed-line services grew strongly for a while but have been experiencing
zero and negative growth of late. This report presents the key measures and takes
a general look at the market direction.
Indonesia
The Indonesian telecom sector has been through a lot of turmoil over the last
decade. This report gives an overview of the market at a time when it seems to
have successfully weathered the worst of the country’s economic difficulties.
Growth, both in subscriber numbers and in revenues, has been occurring once
again and, more importantly, there are signs that the changes in the regulatory
regime and operator restructuring are starting to have a positive effect on the
industry. The mobile market has been especially strong. However, there were some
signs that the government was hesitating in its efforts to restructure the industry.
Japan
Japan’s telecommunications sector is one of the most active markets in the world.
Coming into 2008, the country was witnessing the continued growth of VoIP and
triple-play services in particular, and strong competition among the mobile
operators in the 3G segment of the market was also ongoing. Especially noteworthy
has been the uptake of FttH services (with a corresponding move away from DSL)
and the big strides taken in developing digital and mobile broadcasting.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has a booming telecoms market. New legislation adopted in 2004 opened
the floodgates for the liberalisation of the telecom sector and ended Kazakhtelecom’s
monopoly. By April 2005, four companies had been licensed to provide international
and long-distance services in competition with the incumbent. By year-end, over
1,000 licences had been issued for the provision of a range of telecom services.
Rapid growth in the mobile market has seen subscriber numbers surge from 260,000
in 2000 to over 12 million by late 2007.
Korea,
North and South - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband 2008 Report
South Korea has one of the most vibrant and interesting telecommunications
markets in the world. Supported by a visionary government program of stimulating
development through liberalisation, deregulation and early privatisation of the
incumbent, a creative and energetic private sector and a technology savvy population,
the Republic of Korea continues to push forward on this front. By contrast, the
development of the telecoms sector in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(DPRK) is seriously impeded by the country’s parlous economic state and the
government’s general repression of communications. See complete summary.
Korea,
South
Map of South Korea and country data.
Kyrgystan
Map of Kyrgystan and country data.
Lao
Map and data on Laos.
Macao
Map and data for Macao.
Malaysia
Map and data on Malaysia.
Maldives
Map and data for Maldives.
Mongolia
Map and data for Mongolia.
Myanmar
Map and data for Myanmar.
Nepal
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Amid an
unsettled political climate, the country has moved to a more liberalised telecom
market. This report looks at the overall state of telecommunications in Nepal
and provides a selection of pertinent market statistics.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s telecom market has struggled for a long time with the transition
from a regulated state-owned monopoly to a deregulated competitive structure.
This report covers key telecom market statistics and provides regulatory
overviews.
Philippines - Key Telecom Market Statistics
Philippines key telecom market statistics and regulatory overviews. While the
telecom sector in the Philippines has witnessed considerable investment and
activity since deregulation in 1993, the market has fallen short of its potential.
However, there are strong signs that this is changing.
Singapore - Telecommunications Infrastructure
Singapore’s reputation for a truly progressive telecommunications market over
the past three decades has been built on its excellent infrastructure. Whilst
the Singapore’s geographical situation has been of considerable advantage in putting
its infrastructure in place, other factors, including the government’s strong
commitment to developing telecommunications, have certainly helped.
Sri Lanka - Internet Market
Until 1999, there were only six Internet Service Providers in Sri Lanka. The number jumped
quickly to 24 and has included a number of innovative operators. As this report indicates,
Internet and other forms of data services have been starting to take off in Sri Lanka, but
coverage and accessibility was limited (user penetration is estimated at less than 3%) and
the sophistication of the services available remains low. The early moves to offer broadband
Internet in the country have met with limited success and it will be some time before there
is a viable broadband market. There were however some early signs of growth in broadband
services in 2007. As well as providing an overview of Sri Lanka’s Internet sector, this
report takes a brief look at some of the service providers.
Taiwan
In a short time, Taiwan has become a significant player in
broadband Internet access.
The government has been busy promoting the benefits of broadband
and has committed
the country to being on a par with the US by 2010. By September
2003, Taiwan was
ranked fourth in the world in terms of broadband penetration
with 13%, up from 4% just
two years earlier. By mid-2005, the penetration had been lifted
to over 17%. At end-2004,
the IDC Information Society Index (ISI) rated Taiwan as having
the world’s best wireless
Internet penetration. The report looks at the broadband side of
the Internet revolution that
has taken place in Taiwan.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s telecommunications network is arguably the least developed of all
the countries that emerged from the former Soviet Union. With a telecom network
that was near total collapse, the government has started the daunting task of
bringing it up to modern standards. A gradual process of liberalisation is
under way and a number of private operators have been allowed to enter the
telecom market since 1996, notably in the mobile and Internet sectors.
Thailand - Broadband Market
Thailand would appear to have shrugged off its earlier hesitation about the Internet.
It has been energetically embracing everything online in the marketplace. After a period
of heavy dependence on dial-up, the country has been making a strong push into broadband
services. Most significantly, some of the players have started committing significant
capital to building infrastructure. At the same time a start has been made on restructuring
the Internet market. Once government changes to the regulatory regime start to impact, there
should be even greater opportunity for broadband Internet to flourish. This report gives
a general overview at the Thai broadband Internet market.
Turkmenistan - Telecom Market Overview
Communications services in Turkmenistan are the least developed of all the CIS
countries. Poor growth in telecoms services, the slow progress in the development
of the private sector and continuing state control over most economic activities
have not been helpful in growing the country’s telecommunications market.
Combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity was estimated at roughly 10% in 2005.
The Internet is controlled by the government and access is severely restricted.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has been struggling to bring its telecom system up to the standard
found in more developed countries. Although steadily improving, a substantial
portion of the telecoms infrastructure remains outmoded and inadequate. Since
2002 the situation has markedly improved, due largely to the government giving
priority to the ICT sector.
Vietnam - Broadband
Having come late to the Internet, Vietnam is only now starting to explore the possibilities
to be found in higher Internet access speeds. The initial roll-out of some broadband services
has been followed by a strong surge in growth, but broadband remains on a relatively small
scale and in need of a stronger market focus by the providers. Given that there are signs
of an increasingly Internet savvy population, it will be interesting to see how services
such as WiMAX take off. This report looks at the early development of broadband in the
country, as well as the embryonic e-commerce market. Interestingly, the government has
been particularly active in the development of cyber laws.
Asia Internet Usage and Population
Statistics Tables
Asia
Population and Internet Usage by Country
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