Bosni Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 9 Aug 2024 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 154

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 5G licenses not expected until 2026

The economic prosperity of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) continues to rest with the country’s integration with the European Union, the block being the country’s largest trading partner and a source of considerable funds for infrastructure development.

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. Further roaming agreements were made in 2019 and 2021 with other western Balkan countries

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. Together, these three incumbent operators control most of the market, though there is competition in the form of several MVNOs while in the internet sector there are 63 licensed operators. All three incumbents are subject to specific obligations designed to improve competition.

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

In the internet sector DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity, though fibre broadband is making considerable gains. By March 2024, fibre accounted for 13% of all fixed broadband connections.

The three MNOs, each affiliated with one of the incumbent fixed-line operators, provide national coverage with 3G, while LTE coverage is about 93%. Their upgraded networks are helping to support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient. The launch of commercial LTE services was delayed because spectrum was not awarded until 2019. This delay has had knock-on effects with 5G. While 5G trials have been underway for some years, the MNOs are focussed on upgrading LTE network capacity, and the regulator has yet to formulate a 5G roadmap.

Key developments:

Regulator adopts a revised licence fee for 2024 of 0.75% of licensees’ revenue.
BC Partners enters into talks potentially to sell United Group’s unit in in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Actis-led consortium acquires Telekom Serbia’s macro tower portfolio in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Regulator renews mobile licenses for the MNOs.
Report update included the regulator's annual report for 2023 and market data to March 2024, telcos' operating and financial data to Q2 2024, Telecom maturity Index charts and analyse, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

BH Telecom, HT Mostar, Telekom Sprske, LogoSoft

Key statistics
Regional Europe Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Telecom sector liberalisation
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Interconnection
Access
Number Portability (NP)
Carrier Selection/Carrier Preselection
Privatisation

Mobile network developments

National licences
Roaming
3G mobile licenses
Spectrum auctions
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile data services

SMS/MMS

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G

Major mobile operators

BH Mobile
Mobilna Srpske (m:tel)
HT Mobile (Eronet)

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed network operators

BH Telecom
HT Mostar
Telekom Srpske

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Bosnia-Herzegovina – 2024 (e)
Table 2 – Development of telecom revenue by sector (KM million) –2011 - 2023
Table 3 – Proportion of telecoms revenue by sector – 2011 – 2023
Table 4 – Change in the proportion of telecom sector revenue to GDP – 2016 – 2023
Table 5 – Accumulated fixed number portings – 2011 - 2024
Table 6 – Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers – 2011 – 2024
Table 7 – License fees paid by operators – 2014 - 2018
Table 8 – Change in mobile roaming traffic (minutes) – 2018 - 2023
Table 9 – Change in mobile roaming revenue – 2018 - 2023
Table 10 – Annual mobile number portings – 2013 - 2024
Table 11 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers (thousand) – 2011 – 2024
Table 12 – Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract subscribers – 2014 – 2024
Table 13 – Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator – 2014 – 2023
Table 14 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 15 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator –2009 – 2024
Table 16 – Change in mobile outgoing traffic – 2014 – 2024
Table 17 – Change in the number of SMS and MMS messages sent (million) – 2009 – 2024
Table 18 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 19 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers via data cards – 2016 – 2023
Table 20 – Mobile broadband coverage by BH Mobile (3G/LTE) – 2021 – 2023
Table 21 – Mobile broadband coverage by Telekom Srpske (3G/LTE) – 2021 – 2023
Table 22 – Mobile broadband coverage by HT Mostar (3G/LTE) – 2021 – 2023
Table 23 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2014 – 2024
Table 24 – Increase in average mobile data traffic per user – 2017 – 2023
Table 25 – BH Mobile base stations – 2014 – 2021
Table 26 – Change in the number of BH Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – M:tel base stations – 2014 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in the number of m:tel’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Table 29 – MH Mobile base stations – 2014 – 2019
Table 30 – Change in the number of HT Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 31 – MVNO subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2024
Table 32 – Change in the number of licensed ISPs in Bosnia – 2011 – 2024
Table 33 – Decline in the number of dial-up internet subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 34 – Internet users and penetration – 2011 – 2023
Table 35 – Change in the fixed broadband penetration rate by household – 2014 – 2023
Table 36 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Table 37 – Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform – 2011 – 2024
Table 38 – Broadband share of subscribers by platform – 2011 – 2024
Table 39 – Change in the broadband penetration rate by platform – 2016 – 2024
Table 40 – Fixed-line broadband connections by data rate – 2017 – 2019
Table 41 – Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate – 2011 – 2023
Table 42 – Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate (new style) – 2020 – 2023
Table 43 – Change in the number of Telekom Srpske’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 44 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2024
Table 45 – Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator – 2011 – 2024
Table 46 – Change in the number of fixed-lines by operator – 2011 – 2021
Table 47 – Development of Telekom Srpske’s financial data (KM million) – 2010 – 2024
Table 48 – Development of Telekom Srpske’s revenue by service (KM million) – 2010 – 2023
Table 49 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 50 – Change in fixed-line traffic by type (incumbent telcos, million minutes) – 2016 – 2024
Table 51 – Change in average fixed-line traffic by user (minutes per month) – 2019 – 2023
Table 52 – International internet bandwidth – 2007 – 2023
Table 53 – Historic – Telecoms revenue by sector (BAM million) – 2005 – 2010
Table 54 – Historic – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2005 – 2010
Table 55 – Historic – Broadband subscribers by platform (thousand) – 2007 – 2010
Table 56 – Historic – Broadband share of subscribers by platform – 2009 – 2010
Table 57 – Historic – Dial-up internet subscribers – 2007 – 2010
Table 58 – Historic – Prepaid and contract cards in service (thousand) – 2005 – 2010
Table 59 – Historic – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2010
Table 60 – Historic – Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers – 2008 – 2010
Table 61 – Historic – M:tel mobile subscribers – 2008 – 2010
Table 62 – Historic – Fixed-line voice lines by operator – 2005 – 2010
Table 63 – Historic - - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2010
Table 64 – Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Europe – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Development of telecom revenue by sector–2014 – 2023
Chart 11 – Proportion of telecoms revenue by sector – 2011 – 2023
Chart 12 – Accumulated fixed number portings – 2011 - 2024
Chart 13 – Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers – 2011 – 2024
Chart 14 – Change in mobile roaming traffic – 2018 - 2023
Chart 15 – Change in mobile roaming revenue – 2018 - 2023
Chart 16 – Annual mobile number portings – 2013 - 2024
Chart 17 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers (thousand) – 2011 – 2024
Chart 18 – Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract subscribers – 2014 – 2024
Chart 19 – Change in the share of mobile retail revenue by operator – 2014 – 2023
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 21 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator –2014 – 2024
Chart 22 – Change in mobile outgoing traffic – 2014 – 2024
Chart 23 – Change in the number of SMS and MMS messages sent – 2009 – 2024
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 25 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2014 – 2024
Chart 26 – Change in the number of BH Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 27 – Change in the number of m:tel’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Chart 28 – Change in the number of HT Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 29 – Internet users and penetration – 2011 – 2023
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Chart 31 – Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform – 2011 – 2024
Chart 32 – Broadband share of subscribers by platform – 2011 – 2024
Chart 33 – Change in the broadband penetration rate by platform – 2016 – 2024
Chart 34 – Fixed-line broadband connections by data rate – 2017 – 2019
Chart 35 – Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate – 2011 – 2023
Chart 36 – Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate (new style) – 2020 – 2023
Chart 37 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2024
Chart 38 – Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator – 2011 – 2024
Chart 39 – Change in the number of fixed-lines by operator – 2011 – 2021
Chart 40 – Development of Telekom Srpske’s financial data (BAM million) – 2010 – 2024
Chart 41 – Development of Telekom Srpske’s revenue by service – 2010 – 2023
Chart 42 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 43 – Change in fixed-line traffic by type (incumbent telcos) – 2016 – 2023

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Europe – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Europe – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Europe – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Access, the local loop and unbundling – an overview

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Bosni Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 5G licenses not expected until 2026

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Europe Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views