Bosnia-Herzegovina - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Executive summary

Bosnia-Herzegovina preps for market changes with sale of United Group

The economic prosperity of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) largely rests with the country’s continuing integration with the European Union (EU). GDP growth has recovered from the slow-down seen in the wake of the GFC in 2008 and 2009, though growth was inconsistent until 2015, since when the economy had grown at above 3% annually. Other than a slight dip in 2017. Growth for 2018 was expected to be 3.2%. There remain some significant challenges, not least of which is high unemployment which continues to hinder the country’s economic growth potential.

The telecom market has been liberalised and a regulatory framework created based on the EU’s regulatory framework for communications. Although Bosnia-Herzegovina remains an EU candidate country, in July 2017 it applied amended mobile roaming charges to fit in with changes introduced across the Union.

The market is characterised by three zones, each with an incumbent telco. The largest operator BH Telecom is the dominant provider, while Telekom Srpske operates in Republika Srpska and HT Mostar is active in Herzegovina.

The fixed-line broadband network is comparatively underdeveloped, with the result that investments made in mobile upgrades by BH Mobile and Telekom Srpske are facilitating broadband connectivity in the country to a greater extent than is common elsewhere in Europe.

Although a number of fixed-line operators offer services the market is dominated by the three incumbent operators, which control 99% of the market. All three incumbents are subject to specific obligations designed to improve competition.

Internet services are available through the incumbents and a number of alternative operators. DSL and cable are the chief platforms for fixed-line connectivity, while fibre broadband as yet has only a small market presence.

The three mobile network operators (MNOs), each affiliated with one of the incumbent fixed-line operators, provide national coverage. Their upgraded networks are helping to support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient. In addition, mobile data and mobile broadband offers will provide future revenue growth given the limited potential of mobile voice services.

Key developments:

Regulator calls for bids for 400MHz fixed-wireless licence;
KKR considering sale of United Group;
Telemach extends footprint by using power utility’s poles;
New mobile roaming fees come into effect;
Regulator opens consultation of releasing spectrum for LTE services;
Fixed-line voice revenue continues to slide as customers migrate to VoIP and mobile services for voice calls;
Report update included the regulator’s market data to December 2017, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q1 2018, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

BH Telecom, HT Mostar, Telekom Sprske, LogoSoft

1. Executive summary
2. Key statistics
3. Country overview
4. Telecommunications market
5. Regulatory environment
- 5.1 Historical overview
- 5.2 Telecom sector liberalisation
- 5.3 Regulatory authority
- 5.4 Interconnection
- 5.5 Access
- 5.6 Number Portability (NP)
- 5.7 Carrier Selection/Carrier Preselection
- 5.8 Privatisation
  - 5.8.1 BH Telecom
  - 5.8.2 HT Mostar
  - 5.8.3 Telekom Srpske
6. Fixed network operators
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 BH Telecom
- 6.3 HT Mostar
- 6.4 Telekom Srpske
7. Telecommunications infrastructure
- 7.1 Overview of the national telecom network
8. Fixed-line broadband market
- 8.1 Market analysis
- 8.2 Broadband statistics
- 8.3 Forecasts – broadband subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023
- 8.4 Fixed-line broadband technologies
  - 8.4.1 Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
  - 8.4.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
  - 8.4.3 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
  - 8.4.4 Other fixed broadband services
9. Mobile market
- 9.1 Market analysis
- 9.2 Mobile statistics
- 9.3 Mobile data services
  - 9.3.1 SMS/MMS
- 9.4 Mobile broadband
- 9.5 Regulatory issues
  - 9.5.1 National licences
  - 9.5.2 National roaming
  - 9.5.3 3G mobile licenses
  - 9.5.4 Spectrum auctions
  - 9.5.5 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- 9.6 Mobile infrastructure
  - 9.6.1 4G (LTE)
  - 9.6.2 3G
- 9.7 Major mobile operators
  - 9.7.1 BH Mobile
  - 9.7.2 Mobilna Srpske (m:tel)
  - 9.7.3 HT Mobile (Eronet)
  - 9.7.4 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- 9.8 Mobile content and applications
10. Related reports

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Bosnia-Herzegovina – 2018 (e)
Table 2 – Telecoms revenue by sector–2005 - 2016
Table 3 – Proportion of telecoms revenue by sector– 2011 - 2016
Table 4 – Accumulated fixed number portings – 2011 - 2017
Table 5 – Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers – 2008 - 2017
Table 6 – Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator – 2011 - 2017
Table 7 – VoIP subscriptions – 2010 - 2017
Table 8 – Fixed-line voice lines by operator – 2001 - 2017
Table 9 – Telekom Srpske fixed line subscribers – 2008 - 2017
Table 10 – Telekom Srpske financial data – 2010 – 2018
Table 11 – Telekom Srpske domestic revenue by service – 2010 – 2018
Table 12 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1999 - 2009
Table 13 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 - 2018
Table 14 – Fixed-line traffic (incumbent telcos) – 2014 - 2017
Table 15 – International internet bandwidth – 2007 - 2016
Table 16 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 - 2009
Table 17 – Internet users and penetration rate – 2010 - 2018
Table 18 – Dial-up internet subscribers – 2007 - 2017
Table 19 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2002 - 2018
Table 20 – Broadband subscribers by access type – 2004 - 2017
Table 21 – Broadband share of subscribers by platform – 2007 - 2017
Table 22 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate – 2017
Table 23 – Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate – 2011 - 2017
Table 24 – Forecast fixed broadband subscribers – 2019; 2022; 2023
Table 25 – Telekom Srpske DSL subscribers – 2011 – 2016
Table 26 – FttP subscribers – 2010 - 2018
Table 27 – Prepaid and contract cards in service – 2005 – 2017
Table 28 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1998 – 2009
Table 29 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 – 2018
Table 30 – Mobile subscriber market share by operator –2004 - 2017
Table 31 – Total SMS and MMS messages sent – 2003 - 2017
Table 32 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 - 2018
Table 33 – Annual mobile number portings – 2013 - 2017
Table 34 – BH Mobile base stations and population coverage – 2014 - 2017
Table 35 – BH Mobile mobile subscribers – 2012 - 2017
Table 36 – M:tel base stations and population coverage – 2014 - 2017
Table 37 – M:tel mobile subscribers – 2008 - 2017
Table 38 – MH Mobile base stations and population coverage – 2014 - 2017
Table 39 – HT Mobile mobile subscribers – 2012 - 2017
Table 40 – MVNO subscribers by operator – 2013 - 2017

Chart 1 – Telecoms revenue by sector–2005 – 2016
Chart 2 – Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers – 2008 – 2017
Chart 3 – Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator – 2011 – 2017
Chart 4 – Historic - Fixed-line voice lines by operator – 2001 – 2017
Chart 5 – Telekom Srpske domestic revenue by service – 2010 – 2018
Chart 6 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2005 – 2018
Chart 7 – Internet users and penetration rate – 2005 – 2018
Chart 8 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2002 – 2018
Chart 9 – Broadband subscribers by access type – 2004 – 2017
Chart 10 – Prepaid and contract cards in service – 2005 – 2017
Chart 11 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2005 – 2018
Chart 12 – Mobile subscriber market share by operator –2004 – 2017
Chart 13 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2018

Exhibit 1 – Access, the local loop and unbundling – an overview

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Technologies

Broadband Fixed
Broadcasting
Companies (Major Players)
Internet
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Regulations & Government Policies
Strategies & Analyses (Industry & Markets)
Telecoms Infrastructure

Number of pages 38

Status Current

Last updated 21 Sep 2018
Update History

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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