Caribbean - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 21 Jul 2021 Update History

Report Pages: 246

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Ongoing Covid-19 crisis places continued downward pressure on the Caribbean telecom sector

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the health and economies of countries throughout the Caribbean region. Given the significant exposure that many of them have to the tourism industry, there has been a flow-on effect in the telecom sector, with declines seen in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services — the mainstay of short-term visitors) and revenue. Fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis to a small extent as employees and students have resorted to working from home, but their contribution to the sector has been insufficient to offset steep falls in other areas of the market.

One major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel. The company filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the US in April 2020. It continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt, but the pressure is mounting as voice revenues continue to drop from quarter to quarter, and recent adverse currency fluctuations have made the debt burden even worse.

The other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue. However, CWC has the benefit of having the financial backing of its new owner, telecoms multinational Liberty Global. CWC is steadily expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations. The investment strategy should enable CWC to at least maintain its market share — if not grow it substantially should Digicel falter.

One area of the telecom market that does not yet appear poised for growth is 5G mobile. Governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have little appetite for investing in 5G opportunities at the present time. Network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. Until the economies and markets stabilize, and overseas visitors return (with increased spending power as well as higher expectations), there is unlikely to be much momentum towards implementing 5G capabilities anywhere in the region.

Key developments:

Digicel Group completes a successful debt restructuring.
Covid-19 crisis drags down Caribbean economies heavily exposed to tourism, and their telecom markets with it.
LTE infrastructure continues to roll out around the Caribbean region, but with few signs of progress towards 5G.
This report includes the regulator's annual reports and market updates, operator data to Q1 2021, ITU’s market data, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), LIME, FLOW, Liberty Global, Liberty Latin America, Digicel Group, Orange Caraïbes, United Telecommunications Services (UTS), KeyTech, Karib Cable, APUA, Setar, Bahamas Telecommunications Company, ALIV, Bermuda Telecommunications Services, Telecom Services of Trinidad & Tobago, ATN,

Caribbean Market Comparison

Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
Telecom sector liberalisation
Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO)

Mobile market
Fixed-line broadband market
Major telecom operators in the Caribbean

CWC/Liberty Global
Digicel

Digicel’s history
Review of Digicel’s markets
Digicel’s financial performance

Telecommunications infrastructure

Submarine cable systems

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda

Mobile market

Aruba
Bahamas

Regulatory measures

Access

Market competition
Fixed-line
Mobile
Broadband
Submarine cables

Barbados

Mobile
Broadband

Bermuda

Mobile
Broadband
Smart grids

British Virgin Islands

Mobile market

Cayman Islands
Dominica

Mobile

Grenada
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia

Mobile

St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

Telecom sector
Fixed network
Mobile
Fixed and mobile broadband
Data centres

Turks and Caicos
United States Virgin Islands
Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Change in CWC’s residential revenue by type ($ million) – 2017 – 2021
Table 2 – Growth in the number of CWC’s fixed-line RGUs by sector – 2009 – 2021
Table 3 – Growth in the number of CWC’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Table 4 – Country data Antigua and Barbuda – 2021 (e)
Table 5 – Antigua and Barbuda subscribers by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 6 – Antigua and Barbuda penetration by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 7 – Antigua and Barbuda mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Table 8 – Country data Aruba – 2021 (e)
Table 9 – Country data Bahamas – 2021 (e)
Table 10 – Bahamas - Change in telecom sector revenue – 2011 – 2020
Table 11 – Bahamas - Decline in fixed lines in service and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 12 – Bahamas - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 13 – Bahamas - Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Table 14 – Bahamas - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 15 – Country data Barbados – 2021 (e)
Table 16 – Barbados - Fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 17 – Barbados – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 18 – Barbados - Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Table 19 – Barbados - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 20 – Country data Bermuda – 2021 (e)
Table 21 – Bermuda - One Communications financial data ($ million) – 2016 – 2020
Table 22 – Bermuda - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 23 – Bermuda - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 24 – BVI - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 25 – BVI - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 26 – BVI – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 – 2020
Table 27 – Cayman Islands - Change in the number of subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Table 28 – Cayman Islands - Change in penetration by service – 2011 – 2020
Table 29 – Cayman Island telecom and broadcasting revenue – 2011 – 2019
Table 30 – Country data Dominica – 2021 (e)
Table 31 – Dominica - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 32 – Dominica - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 33 – Dominica - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Table 34 – Country data Grenada – 2021 (e)
Table 35 – Grenada - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 36 – Grenada - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 37 – Grenada - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Table 38 – Grenada - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 39 – Country data St Kitts and Nevis – 2021 (e)
Table 40 – St Kitts and Nevis - Change in subscriber numbers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 41 – St Kitts and Nevis - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 42 – St Kitts and Nevis - mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Table 43 – St Kitts and Nevis active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 44 – Country data St Lucia – 2021 (e)
Table 45 – St Lucia - Change in subscriber numbers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 46 – St Lucia - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 47 – St Lucia active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 48 – Country data St Vincent and the Grenadines – 2021 (e)
Table 49 – St Vincent and the Grenadines - Change in subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 50 – St Vincent and the Grenadines - Change in service penetration – 2011 – 2020
Table 51 – St Vincent and the Grenadines active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Table 52 – Country data Trinidad & Tobago – 2021 (e)
Table 53 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom subscribers by service – 2009 – 2020
Table 54 – Trinidad & Tobago penetration by service – 2009 – 2020
Table 55 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom revenue by service (TTD million) – 2011 – 2020
Table 56 – Trinidad & Tobago ARPU by service (TTD) – 2009 – 2020
Table 57 – Trinidad & Tobago active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2020
Table 58 – Historic - CWC financial data (Caribbean) ($ million) – 2010 – 2017
Table 59 – Historic - CWC revenue by sector ($ million) – 2010 – 2017
Table 60 – Historic - Digicel revenue by operating segment ($ million) – 2013 – 2015
Table 61 – Historic - Digicel financial statistics ($ million) – 2010 – 2015
Table 62 – Historic - Digicel revenue by geographic sector ($ million) – 2014 – 2015
Table 63 – Historic - Anguilla communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 64 – Historic - Anguilla subscribers by service – 2005 – 2015
Table 65 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2010
Table 66 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda fixed-telephony lines in service – 2005 – 2010
Table 67 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 68 – Historic - Aruba fixed-line telephony subscribers and penetration – 2001 – 2015
Table 69 – Historic - Aruba fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2015
Table 70 – Historic - Aruba mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2015
Table 71 – Historic - Bahamas fixed lines in services and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 72 – Historic - Bahamas fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2001 – 2010
Table 73 – Historic - Bahamas mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 74 – Historic - Barbados fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2005 – 2010
Table 75 – Historic - Barbados mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 76 – Historic - Barbados fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2005 – 2010
Table 77 – Historic - Bermuda mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 78 – Historic - Bermuda fixed lines in services – 2003 – 2010
Table 79 – Historic - Bermuda active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2017
Table 80 – Historic - Bermuda fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2010
Table 81 – Historic - BVI fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2005 – 2010
Table 82 – Historic - BVI revenue from telecoms and ICT services ($ million) – 2009 – 2014
Table 83 – Historic - BVI mobile subscribers and penetration – 2007 – 2010
Table 84 – Historic - Cayman Island subscribers by service – 2005 – 2010
Table 85 – Historic - Cayman Island penetration by service – 2005 – 2010
Table 86 – Historic - Dominica communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 87 – Historic - Dominica fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 88 – Historic - Dominica fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2020
Table 89 – Historic - Dominica mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 90 – Historic - Grenada communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 91 – Historic - Grenada fixed broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2010
Table 92 – Historic - Grenada fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2010
Table 93 – Historic - Grenada mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 94 – Historic - Montserrat communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 95 – Historic - Netherlands Antilles fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2014
Table 96 – Historic – St Kitts and Nevis communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 97 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis fixed broadband subscribers – 2002 – 2010
Table 98 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 99 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis fixed-lines in service and penetration – 2000 – 2010
Table 100 – Historic - St Lucia communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 101 – Historic - St Lucia fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 102 – Historic - St Lucia fixed telephony subscribers – 2006 – 2010
Table 103 – Historic - St Lucia mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 104 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 105 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines fixed telephony subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 106 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 107 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 108 – Historic - Bahamas - Change in telecom sector revenue – 2003 – 2010
Table 109 – Historic - Cayman Island telecom and broadcasting revenue – 2004 – 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Caribbean Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 2 – Caribbean Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 – Caribbean mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 4 – Caribbean fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 5 – Change in CWC’s residential revenue by type – 2017 – 2021
Chart 6 – Growth in the number of CWC’s fixed-line RGUs by sector – 2009 – 2021
Chart 7 – Growth in the number of CWC’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Chart 8 – Antigua and Barbuda subscribers by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 9 – Antigua and Barbuda penetration by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 10 – Antigua and Barbuda active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Chart 11 – Bahamas - Change in telecom sector revenue – 2011 – 2020
Chart 12 – Bahamas - Decline in fixed lines in service and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 13 – Bahamas - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 14 – Bahamas - Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Chart 15 – Bahamas - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 16 – Barbados - Fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 17 – Barbados - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 18 – Barbados - Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Chart 19 – Barbados - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 20 – Bermuda - One Communications financial data – 2016 – 2020
Chart 21 – Bermuda - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 22 – Bermuda - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 23 – BVI - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 24 – BVI - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 25 – BVI - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 – 2020
Chart 26 – Cayman Islands - Change in the number of subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Chart 27 – Cayman Islands - Change in penetration by service – 2011 – 2020
Chart 28 – Cayman Island telecom and broadcasting revenue – 2011 – 2019
Chart 29 – Dominica - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 30 – Dominica - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 31 – Dominica - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Chart 32 – Grenada - Change in the number of subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 33 – Grenada - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 34 – Grenada - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Chart 35 – Grenada - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 36 – St Kitts and Nevis - Change in subscriber numbers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 37 – St Kitts and Nevis - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 38 – St Kitts and Nevis - mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2020
Chart 39 – St Kitts and Nevis active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 40 – St Lucia - Change in subscriber numbers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 41 – St Lucia - Change in penetration of services by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 42 – St Lucia active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 43 – St Vincent and the Grenadines - Change in subscribers by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 44 – St Vincent and the Grenadines - Change in service penetration – 2011 – 2020
Chart 45 – St Vincent and the Grenadines active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Chart 46 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom subscribers by service – 2009 – 2020
Chart 47 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom penetration by service – 2009 – 2020
Chart 48 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom revenue by service – 2011 – 2020
Chart 49 – Trinidad & Tobago ARPU by service (TT$) – 2009 – 2020
Chart 50 – Trinidad & Tobago active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2020

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Caribbean - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Select Country
Exhibit 2 – Major island reports of the Caribbean
Exhibit 3 – Telecom privatisation and liberalisation in the Caribbean
Exhibit 4 – Digicel’s Caribbean operations
Exhibit 5 – Major submarine cable networks serving the Caribbean region

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Paul, Many thanks for your inputs yesterday. You provided a compelling different perspective to our traditional infrastructure focus and this is valuable for our future planning. I also had very favourable feedback from our participants on your involvement.

Stephen Negus, Aurecon

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Caribbean - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Ongoing Covid-19 crisis places continued downward pressure on the Caribbean telecom sector

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Caribbean Market Comparison

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Major telecom operators in the Caribbean

Telecommunications infrastructure

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

Bahamas

Barbados

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Dominica

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Martinique

Montserrat

Netherlands Antilles

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos

United States Virgin Islands

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Hot Topics

News & Views