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Kosovo - Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts

Executive summary

Government nears sale of 75% interest in telecom incumbent

Kosovo has benefited from financial and regulatory assistance as part of the EU pre-accession process, The EU remains Kosovo’s main trading partner and its main source of foreign direct investment.

Telecom sector overview

The country’s telecom sector has been liberalised, with new legislation introduced in late 2012 to align with the EU’s revised regulatory framework. It also adopted measures relating to competition and to facilitating the market entry of new players. Nevertheless, poor telecom infrastructure has meant that fixed-line penetration remains low by European standards. Unlike most markets, the fixed-line broadband sector is dominated by new players, in particular the cable operator IPKO which has upgraded its network with DOCSIS3.0 technology.

Broadband market

Broadband penetration in Kosovo is developing slowly, with effective competition between the main cable and DSL operators. There are a number of smaller ISPs, though the sector is dominated by only two players. Cable accounts for the majority of connections, and though the incumbent PTK is building out an upgraded fibre-based NGN investment has been insufficient.

Mobile market

The mobile sector accounts for most lines as well as the greater part of telecom revenue. Two MNOs compete with two MVNOs, though the latter have a very small market presence. The prepaid sector accounts for the vast majority of subscribers, though it is gradually losing ground as more contract subscribers sign up for services. Mobile data services will become increasingly important in coming years as a source of new revenue growth.

Kosovo – Key telecom parameters – 2010; 2012

Sector
2010
2012 (e)
Subscribers to services (thousand)
Fixed-line
83
85
Fixed broadband
126
144
Mobile phone
1,450
1,570
Penetration rate by service:
Fixed-line
4.4%
4.9%
Fixed broadband
6.1%
8.4%
Mobile phone
70%
90%

(Source: BuddeComm based on industry data)

Market highlights:

  • Competition in the liberalised telecom market has been facilitated by the 2012 Law On Electronic Telecommunications which aims to ease the market entry of new players. Nevertheless, continuing poor investment in the sector has meant that fixed-line telecoms penetration in Kosovo remains among the lowest in Europe.
  • Broadband availability through DSL, cable and wireless services is being supplemented by nascent FttX deployments. Poor infrastructure means that rural broadband is still dominated by wireless access: WiMAX networks offer near universal population coverage, though data speeds are commonly about 256Kb/s, which severely limits internet functionality.
  • Digital TV programming is available from the cable TV operator IPKO. The country’s main broadcasters have formed a consortium to promote digital terrestrial TV development.
  • Competition in the mobile market is secured by two MNOs and two MVNOs, though the latter have a limited presence. Relatively high mobile penetration showcases the sector’s popularity as a customer response to poor fixed-line infrastructure.

Henry Lancaster

December 2012

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Kosovo’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors. Subjects include:

  • Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
  • Facts, figures and statistics;
  • Industry and regulatory issues;
  • Infrastructure;
  • Major players, revenues, subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
  • Mobile voice and data markets;
  • Broadband (FttX, DSL, cable, wireless);
  • Broadband market forecasts for selective years to 2020.

Key developments:

Mobile subscriber base climbs steadily in 2012; government’s delayed privatisation of PTK opposed by trade union body; telecom sector revenue showed slight growth into 2012; continuing economic strain leads to fall in telecom investment; PTK expands fixed-lines services with €10 million investment; Kosovo adopt new Law On Electronic Communications; IPKO launches an 80Mb/s offer; regulator’s H1 2012 market data, market developments to December 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

PTK, IPKO, Artmotion, Kujtesa; Dukagjini Telecommunications, Dardafon.

This report is essential reading for those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecom sector in Kosovo. It provides further information on:

  • Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
  • The impact of the global economic crisis;
  • Telecoms operators – privatisation, acquisitions, new licences;
  • Mobile data market developments in coming years;
  • 3G developments, regulatory issues and technologies;
  • Broadband migration to an FttH architecture;
  • Historical and current subscriber statistics and forecasts;
  • ARPU statistics and forecasts.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Executive summary
  • 2. Key statistics
    • 2.1 Country overview
  • 3. Telecommunications market
    • 3.1 Overview of Kosovo’s telecom market
  • 4. Regulatory environment
    • 4.1 Regulatory authorities
    • 4.2 Telecom sector liberalisation in Kosovo
    • 4.3 Privatisation
    • 4.4 Interconnect
    • 4.5 Access
    • 4.6 Number portability (NP)
  • 5. Fixed network operators in Kosovo
    • 5.1 Post and Telecom of Kosovo (PTK)
    • 5.2 IPKO
    • 5.3 Kujtesa
    • 5.4 Kone
  • 6. Telecommunications infrastructure
  • 7. Broadband market
    • 7.1 Overview
      • 7.1.1 Broadband statistics
    • 7.2 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
    • 7.3 Cable broadband
    • 7.4 Wireless broadband
  • 8. Digital media
    • 8.1 Overview of broadcasting market
    • 8.2 Cable TV
  • 9. Mobile communications
    • 9.1 Overview of Kosovo’s mobile market
      • 9.1.1 Mobile statistics
    • 9.2 Regulatory issues
      • 9.2.1 First mobile licence
      • 9.2.2 Second mobile licence
      • 9.2.3 Third mobile licence
      • 9.2.4 MVNO Framework
      • 9.2.5 Mobile number portability (MNP)
    • 9.3 Mobile technologies
      • 9.3.1 Digital
    • 9.4 Major mobile operators
      • 9.4.1 Vala
      • 9.4.2 IPKO
      • 9.4.3 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO)
    • 9.5 Mobile voice services
      • 9.5.1 Prepaid
    • 9.6 Mobile data services
      • 9.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
      • 9.6.2 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
  • 10. Forecasts – fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 - 2013; 2020
    • 10.1 Scenario 1 – higher broadband subscriber growth
    • 10.2 Scenario 2 – lower broadband subscriber growth
    • 10.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
  • 11. Related reports
  • Table 1 – Country statistics Kosovo – 2012 (e)
  • Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – 2012 (e)
  • Table 3 – Internet user statistics – June 2012
  • Table 4 – Broadband statistics – 2012 (e)
  • Table 5 – Mobile statistics – 2012 (e)
  • Table 6 – National telecommunications authority
  • Table 7 – Telecom revenue by sector – 2009 - 2012
  • Table 8 – Market share of revenue by sector – 2010 - 2012
  • Table 9 – Market share of fixed-telephony subscribers by operator – 2009 - 2012
  • Table 10 – PTK financial data – 2007 - 2010
  • Table 11 – IPKO fixed-line and mobile subscribers – 2010 - 2011
  • Table 12 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2004 - 2012
  • Table 13 – Broadband subscribers and penetration – 2007 - 2013
  • Table 14 – Broadband subscribers by operator – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 15 – IPKO broadband subscribers – 2006 - 2012
  • Table 16 – Broadband market share by operator – 2010 - 2012
  • Table 17 – Broadband market share by platform – 2007 - 2011
  • Table 18 – DSL broadband subscribers – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 19 – Cable broadband subscribers – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 20 – Wireless broadband subscribers – 2007 - 2011
  • Table 21 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2004 - 2013
  • Table 22 – Mobile market share by subscribers – 2004 - 2012
  • Table 23 – Mobile market revenue – 2008 - 2012
  • Table 24 – Vala subscribers – 2008 - 2012
  • Table 25 – Vala mobile revenue – 2007 - 2010
  • Table 26 – Prepaid as proportion of total mobile subscribers – 2007 - 2012
  • Table 27 – Vala SMS volume – 2009 - 2010
  • Table 28 – Forecast broadband subscribers – higher growth scenario – 2010 - 2013; 2020
  • Table 29 – Forecast broadband subscribers – lower growth scenario – 2010 - 2013; 2020
  • Chart 1 – Telecom revenue by sector – 2010 – 2012
  • Chart 2 – PTK financial data – 2007 – 2010
  • Chart 3 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2004 – 2012
  • Chart 4 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2004 – 2013
  • Chart 5 – Mobile market share by subscribers – 2004 – 2012
  • Exhibit 1 – Access, the local loop and unbundling – an overview

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