Caribbean - Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics

Synopsis

Liberalisation of the telecommunications industry has taken place in most Caribbean countries, with operators in these countries now being able to offer a full range of telecom services. Despite being relatively small markets by global standards, telecommunications has become one of the Caribbean’s major growth industries. While in a handful of countries Cable & Wireless (now rebranded LIME) still holds a monopoly in the fixed-line sector, many countries now have other operators offering fixed-line services at competitive prices. Nevertheless, mobile has been the preferred technology for the region. The region’s mobile subscriber base has been witnessing significant growth in recent years driven, in particular, by aggressive competition from Digicel.

During 2009 the region, which relies heavily on tourism, suffered double digit declines in incoming tourist numbers due to the global economic downturn, effectively triggering a recessionary environment in most Caribbean nations. Nevertheless, by early 2010 there were some positive signs of rebounding tourist numbers and offshore company activity, such that most countries were expected to emerge from recession within the following twelve months.

This report provides an overview of the Caribbean’s telecom sector accompanied by relevant statistics and a brief profile of the major players.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Telecommunications market
  
  • 2.1 Overview
    
• 3. Regulatory environment
  
  • 3.1 Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
    
  • 3.2 Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)
    
  • 3.3 Telecom sector liberalisation
    
  • 3.4 Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO)
    
• 4. Major telecom operators in the Caribbean
  
  • 4.1 LIME (Cable & Wireless)
    
  • 4.2 Digicel
    
• 5. Telecommunications infrastructure
  
  • 5.1 Fixed line teledensity
    
  • 5.2 Submarine cable systems
    
• 6. Broadband and Internet market
  
  • 6.1 Overview
    
    • 6.1.1 Internet statistics
      
• 7. Mobile communications
  
  • 7.1 Overview of mobile markets in the Caribbean
    
    • 7.1.1 Mobile statistics
      
  • 7.2 Satellite mobile
    
• 8. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Caribbean countries - 2009
• Table 2 – Internet users and penetration rate in Caribbean countries - 2009
• Table 3 – Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration in Caribbean countries - 2009

• Exhibit 1 – Island territories of the Caribbean
• Exhibit 2 – Telecom privatisation and liberalisation in the Caribbean
• Exhibit 3 – Digicel’s Caribbean operations – 2009
• Exhibit 4 – Major submarine cable networks serving the Caribbean region