Bangladesh - Mobile Market Overview, Forecasts, and Broadcasting

Synopsis

Following deregulation of the mobile market and the entry of two new operators (bringing the total number of mobile providers to five) in 2005, Bangladesh has witnessed a period of booming growth in mobile subscriber numbers. While growth has slowed slightly over the last two or three years, the market continues to expand in a healthy fashion. Foreign investment interest has also continued to be high. This report describes how the mobile market is growing and the impact this growth is having on the developing nation, as well as providing an outline of the main players. The report also has a brief overview of the TV broadcasting sector.

Key Developments:

The first 3G licence in the country had been awarded to state-owned operator Teletalk, but the licensing process had become bogged down in red tape; other operators keen to get 3G licences start; overall mobile subscriber growth remains strong (nearly 30% annually) as penetration continues to rise; government reduces SIM tax from BDT800 to BDT606 in what is clearly a major development for the market; mobile ARPU starting to increase after ‘bottoming out’ in 2009;

Companies covered in this report include:

GrameenPhone; CityCell (PBTL); Orascom Telecom Bangladesh (formerly Sheba Telecom); Banglalink; Robi Axiata (formerly Aktel); Teletalk (Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board); Airtel Bangla (formerly Warid Telecom)

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Mobile communications
  • 2.1 Overview of Bangladesh’s mobile market
    • 2.1.1 2G licences
    • 2.1.2 3G licences
  • 2.2 Mobile statistics
  • 2.3 Forecasts – mobile services – 2015; 2020
  • 2.4 Regulatory issues
    • 2.4.1 Infrastructure sharing
    • 2.4.2 Spectrum allocation
    • 2.4.3 SIM registration
    • 2.4.4 Ringtones
    • 2.4.5 Tax on mobile services
  • 2.5 Major mobile operators
    • 2.5.1 CityCell (PBTL)
    • 2.5.2 GrameenPhone
    • 2.5.3 Orascom Telecom (formerly Sheba Telecom)
    • 2.5.4 Robi (formerlyTMIB/AkTel)
    • 2.5.5 Teletalk
    • 2.5.6 Airtel Bangla (formerly Warid Telecom)
  • 2.6 Mobile data services
    • 2.6.1 Mobile broadband
    • 2.6.2 Mobile services – university admissions
• 3. Broadcasting
  • 3.1 Overview of broadcasting market
  • 3.2 TV Channels
  • 3.3 Free to Air (FTA) broadcasting
    • 3.3.1 Bangladesh Television (BTV)
  • 3.4 Cable TV (CATV)
  • 3.5 Satellite TV
    • 3.5.1 ATN Bangla
    • 3.5.2 Boishakhi
    • 3.5.3 BTV World
    • 3.5.4 Channel i
    • 3.5.5 Ekushey Television (ETV)
    • 3.5.6 NTV
  • 3.6 Consolidation and convergence
• 4. Notes on scenario forecasts
• 5. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2012
• Table 2 – Mobile subscribers by operator and annual change – August 2011
• Table 3 – Market share by operator – August 2011
• Table 4 – Mobile services monthly ARPU – 1998 - 2010
• Table 5 – Forecast mobile subscribers – 2015; 2020
• Table 6 – CityCell (PBTL) subscribers – 1999 - 2011
• Table 7 – GrameenPhone subscribers – 1998 - 2011
• Table 8 – Orascom Telecom subscribers – 2002 - 2011
• Table 9 – Axiata (Bangladesh) subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 10 – Teletalk subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 11 – Airtel subscribers – 2007 – 2011
• Table 12 – Key broadcasting statistics – 2010
• Table 13 – Proportion of households with TV – 1998 - 2010
• Table 14 – Cable TV subscribers – 2002 - 2010

• Chart 1 – Bangladesh mobile subscribers and penetration – 2002 - 2012
• Chart 2 – Bangladesh mobile operator market share – August 2011

• Exhibit 1 – Mobile operators in Bangladesh – 2011
• Exhibit 2 - The Village Pay Phone (VPP) Program