2016 Slovakia - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media - Statistics and Analyses

Slovakian telcos invest to widen FttP footprint through to 2018

Despite market liberalisation Slovakia’s incumbent telco Slovak Telekom maintains a near monopoly of the fixed-line market. Following numerous delays, the government in May 2015 acted on its plans to sell its 49% stake in Slovak Telekom. It cancelled a planned IPO, instead electing to sell its share to Deutsche Telekom.

Slovakia’s mobile market is served by four mobile network operators, three of which have a pan-European reach. Mobile penetration is relatively high, reaching about 123% by the end of 2016. The introduction of mobile number portability in 2006 intensified competition between players. Although the number of MVNOs is small the market is growing steadily. Mobile broadband access and content services are developing rapidly in line with operators upgrading their networks with HSPA+ and LTE technologies. Recent trials have delivered data at up to 900Mb/s, while LTE population coverage approaches 85%.

The broadband market has shown steady growth in recent years, with access competition predominately based on infrastructure. The DSL platform remains the dominant access method, while the cable sector is also strong in urban areas. A fast-developing FttX infrastructure and wireless broadband options, particularly from the mobile network operators, add to the mix. Broadband is sold as a platform through which telecom operators provide additional services, such as videostreaming.

This report outlines Slovakia’s fixed-line telecoms market, providing an overview of the regulatory environment, profiles of the major operators, and a range of operational and financial statistics. The report also assesses the broadband and digital media markets, providing an overview of major players, statistics and market analyses, as well as fixed broadband forecasts to 2021. In addition the report covers the mobile market, providing a variety of statistics and reviewing covers regulatory issues and market developments.

Key developments:

• Government sells 49% stake in Slovak Telekom to Deutsche Telekom;
• GTS Nextra rebranded as BENESTRA;
• Slovakia connects to fibre DREAM cable;
• Slovak Telekom contracts Ericsson to manage its fixed line network;
• Slovak Telekom reaches 900Mb/s data speeds in LTE-A trials;
• Orange Slovakia providing 80% population coverage with LTE;
• Mobile revenue continues to fall in wake of regulatory measures and pricing pressure;
• O2 Slovakia upgrades its entire 3G network to HSPA+;
• Slovak Post buys 10% stake in SWAN Mobile;
• Orange Slovakia launches NFC-based contactless m-payment service;
• Regulator auctions additional 3.5GHz spectrum;
• Orange Slovakia to increase FttP footprint to over one million premises by end-2018;
• UPC aiming to integration units in the Czech republic and Slovakia;
• UPC Slovakia’s Fibre Power service extended to more cities;
• Slovak Telekom launches a 300Mb/s fibre service;
• Report update includes the regulator’s market data to June 2016, telcos’ operating data to Q3 2016, recent market developments. 

Companies mentioned in this report:

Slovak Telecom, O2 Slovakia, BENESTRA (GTS Nextra), T-Mobile Slovakia, Orange Slovakia, UPC.