Last updated: 25 Nov 2009 Update History
Report Status: Archived
Report Pages: 80
Analyst: Peter Evans
Publication Overview
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the telecommunications and digital media markets in Sri Lanka. Subjects covered include:
· Key Statistics;
· Market and Industry Overviews;
· Regulatory Environment;
· Major Players (fixed and mobile);
· Infrastructure;
· Mobile Voice and Data Market;
· Internet, including VoIP;
· Broadband;
· Telecom market forecasts for selective years to 2018.
Researcher:- Peter Evans
Current publication date:- November 2009 (15th Edition)
Next publication date:- December 2010
Executive Summary
A modern progressive telecommunications sector is certainly high on the list of priorities for
Nevertheless, much still needs to be done to complete the build-out of the necessary national infrastructure. Extending infrastructure into the North and Eastern provinces, those parts of the country most affected by the long-running civil war that ended in May 2009, has been of high priority. It is well recognised that the growth and development of the telecom sector is necessary to provide, among other things, an impetus for national economic activity.
At the end of 2008 fixed-line teledensity reached 3.5 million (17%). The boost to the numbers was aided by the widespread application of the Wireless Local Loop platform to support the fixed-line roll-out. The fixed voice penetration levels remained relatively low however, especially when it is recognised that there is a large concentration of these services in the capital
In the meantime, the country’s mobile telephone services have been booming. By offering an effective and efficient alternative to the fixed-line networks, with their chronic problems in meeting the general demand for telephone services, the mobile phone has become an essential service and is no longer considered a substitute for a fixed-line service. By early 2009, the Sri Lankan mobile market was still growing at an annual rate of almost 40% as it passed the 60% penetration mark. The strong growth looked likely to continue as the country’s four competing mobile operators – Mobitel, Tigo (Celltel Lanka), Hutchison Lanka and Dialog Telekom (MTN) – battled for market share and position. These four had been joined by a fifth operator in January 2009, when Bharti Airtel Lanka launched its GSM service.
The development of the Internet remains of particular concern for
·
· In other words, coming into 2009, the number of mobile subscriber had increased tenfold in just over five years.
· With three mobile operators having launched their 3G services, there were around 400,000 3G subscribers in
· A fifth mobile operator, Bharti Airtel Lanka, launched its network/service in January 2009, further increasing the level of competition in the market.
· The country’s fixed-line market had been undergoing a period of healthy growth, reaching a subscriber penetration of 17% in 2008.
· Fixed-line expansion had been boosted by the extensive application of CDMA-based WLL technology; WLL services comprised 70% of the total fixed line subscriber base by end-2008.
· After a number of years of solid expansion, there were signs that the fixed line growth was slowing in early 2009.
· The country’s Internet sector remained underdeveloped, with the take up rate of broadband services being especially low; there were however signs that this was changing.
Category |
2008 |
2009 (e) |
Fixed-line services: |
|
|
· Total number of subscribers (million) |
3.45 |
3.50 |
· Annual change |
26% |
1% |
· Fixed-line penetration (population) |
17% |
17% |
Internet: |
|
|
· Total number of subscribers |
234,000 |
260,000 |
· Annual change |
16% |
11% |
· Internet subscriber penetration (population) |
1.2% |
1.3% |
Mobile services: |
|
|
· Total number of subscribers (million) |
11.1 |
14.5 |
· Annual change |
42% |
30% |
· Mobile penetration (population) |
55% |
71% |
(Source: BuddeComm)
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
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