The Libyan telecoms market after Gaddafi

Telecom Investment Research Note

Synopsis

The Gaddafi regime is unlikely to survive the current turmoil in Libya. The country’s telecom sector has been strictly in state hands and controlled by one of Gaddafi’s sons. A regime change may finally bring market liberalisation and opportunities for foreign investors who have so far been excluded from participation. The mobile market is virtually saturated, but excellent growth prospects exist in the underdeveloped Internet and broadband market. Libya’s telecommunications infrastructure is superior to those in most other African countries, including one of Africa’s first Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH) deployments, and its per capita GDP is one of the highest on the continent.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. The telecom sector in Libya – a family business
• 3. Market overview
  • 3.1 A saturated mobile market?
  • 3.2 A virtually untapped Internet and broadband market
  • 3.3 Regulatory environment
• 4. Major players
  • 4.1 LPTIC/GPTC
  • 4.2 Libya Telecom & Technology (LTT)
  • 4.3 Al-Madar (El-Madar)
  • 4.4 Libyana
  • 4.5 LapGreen Networks
• 5. Market liberalisation
  • 5.1 Privatisation plans
  • 5.2 Second national operator (SNO) licence
• 6. Related reports

• Table 1 – Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 - 2011