Caribbean - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 27 Aug 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 246

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Caribbean telecom sector revenue affected by COVID-19

Given the relative lack of economic diversity within the Caribbean, the telecoms sector accounts for a higher proportion of GDP in most markets in the region than is common elsewhere. In the long-term the sector remains one of steady growth, particularly in the mobile telephony and data segments. However, such is the dependence on tourism for many of the islands states that lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, both within the Caribbean and among visitor countries, have had a dramatic effect on local economies. This has had a knock-on effect on consumer spending for telecom services and on operator revenue.

Although there are a number of smaller players operating, Digicel Group and Liberty Latin America are the dominant providers, with local business units spanning the region. Their fixed-line and mobile infrastructure assets have cemented their position as full-service providers. Competition between them has encouraged investments to expand the reach of fibre networks and LTE, while there is also goring interest in 5G infrastructure from Liberty’s mobile unit Flow.

Digicel has invested widely in fibre infrastructure, though at the expense of Group free-cash flow at a time when the Group has amassed considerable debt. As of mid-2020, the Group’s survival rests on its success in renegotiating loans of about $4.3 billion due by the end of 2022.

There have been ongoing changes in telecoms regulations across the region, with national regulators focussed on efforts to improve competition and facilitate investment.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Digicel Group seeking to refinance debts;
Bahamas regulator imposes new wholesale broadband access regime on BTC and Cable Bahamas, issues revised National Spectrum Plan;
Bermudan regulator issues three new telecom licenses, calls temporary halt on 5G trials;
US government completes second subsea cable, linking Puerto Rico with Guantanamo Bay Naval Base;
Antigua government invests EC$80 million to improve state-owned telco’s market competitiveness;
New telecom regulator formed for Cayman Islands;
Digicel Jamaica launches MyCash m-banking service;
Haiti sets up digital incubator to foster digital economy growth;
Report update includes regulators’ annual reports and market updates, operator data to Q1 2020, ITU’s market data, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Cable & Wireless, LIME, Flow, Liberty Global, Digicel Group, Orange Caraïbes, United Telecommunications Services (UTS), KeyTech, Puerto Rico Telephone Company, América Móvil, AT&T, Liberty Cablevision; OneLink Communications; T-Mobile; Open Mobile; Sprint PCS; Choice Cable

Caribbean Market Comparison

Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
TMI versus GDP

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Overview

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

Overview

Fixed-line broadband market
Major telecom operators in the Caribbean

Flow (Cable & Wireless/Liberty Global)
Digicel

Review of Digicel’s markets
Digicel’s financial performance
Restructuring -2020

Telecommunications infrastructure

Submarine cable systems

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda

Mobile market

Aruba
Bahamas

Regulatory measures

Access
National Spectrum Plan 2020-2023

Market competition
Fixed-line
Mobile

Second and third mobile licenses

Broadband
Submarine cables

Barbados

Market background
Mobile
Broadband

Bermuda

Market background
Mobile
Broadband
Smart grids

British Virgin Islands

Mobile market

Cayman Islands

Mobile networks:

Dominica

Mobile

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

Mobile

St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

Fixed-line
Mobile

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 – 2018 - 2020
Table 2 – Growth in the number of CWC’s fixed-line RGUs by sector – 2009 - 2020
Table 3 – Growth in the number of CWC’s mobile subscribers – 2009 - 2020
Table 4 – Country data Antigua and Barbuda – 2020 (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 active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Table 8 – Country data Aruba – 2020 (e)
Table 9 – Country data Bahamas – 2020 (e)
Table 10 – Bahamas - Change in telecom sector revenue – 2014 – 2019
Table 11 – Bahamas - Decline in fixed lines in service and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 12 – Bahamas – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2020
Table 13 – Bahamas – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Table 14 – Bahamas - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 15 – Country data Barbados – 2020 (e)
Table 16 – Barbados - Fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 17 – Barbados – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 18 – Barbados - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Table 19 – Barbados - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 20 – Country data Bermuda – 2020 (e)
Table 21 – One Communications financial data – 2010 – 2019
Table 22 – Bermuda – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Table 23 – Bermuda – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 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 – 2010 – 2020
Table 28 – Cayman Islands – Change in penetration by service – 2010 – 2020
Table 29 – Cayman Island telecom and broadcasting revenue – 2008 – 2017
Table 30 – Country data Dominica – 2020 (e)
Table 31 – Dominica – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Table 32 – Dominica – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 33 – Dominica - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Table 34 – Country data Grenada – 2020 (e)
Table 35 – Granada – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Table 36 – Granada – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 37 – Granada - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 38 – Country data St Kitts and Nevis – 2020 (e)
Table 39 – St Kitts and Nevis – Change in subscriber numbers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Table 40 – St Kitts and Nevis – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 41 – St Kitts and Nevis active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 42 – Country data St Lucia – 2020 (e)
Table 43 – St Lucia – Change in subscriber numbers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Table 44 – St Lucia – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 45 – St Lucia active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 46 – Country data St Vincent and the Grenadines – 2020 (e)
Table 47 – St Vincent and the Grenadines – Change in subscribers by sector – 2010 – 2020
Table 48 – St Vincent and the Grenadines – Change in service penetration – 2010 – 2020
Table 49 – St Vincent and the Grenadines active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Table 50 – Country data Trinidad & Tobago – 2020 (e)
Table 51 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom revenue by service – 2013 – 2019
Table 52 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom subscribers by service – 2010 – 2019
Table 53 – Trinidad & Tobago penetration by sector – 2012 – 2019
Table 54 – Trinidad & Tobago ARPU by service (TT$) – 2009 – 2019
Table 55 – Trinidad & Tobago active mobile broadband penetration – 2010 – 2019
Table 56 – Historic - CWC financial data (Caribbean) – 2010 - 2017
Table 57 – Historic - CWC revenue by sector – 2010 - 2017
Table 58 – Historic - Digicel revenue by operating segment – 2013 - 2015
Table 59 – Historic - Digicel financial statistics – 2010 - 2015
Table 60 – Historic - Digicel revenue by geographic sector ($ million) – 2014 - 2015
Table 61 – Historic - Anguilla communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 62 – Historic - Anguilla subscribers by service – 2005 – 2015
Table 63 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2009
Table 64 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda fixed-telephony lines in service – 2005 – 2009
Table 65 – Historic - Antigua and Barbuda mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 66 – Historic - Aruba fixed-line telephony subscribers and penetration – 2001 – 2015
Table 67 – Historic - Aruba fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2015
Table 68 – Historic - Aruba mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2015
Table 69 – Historic - Bahamas fixed lines in services and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 70 – Historic - Bahamas fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2001 – 2009
Table 71 – Historic - Bahamas mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 72 – Historic - Barbados fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2005 – 2009
Table 73 – Historic - Barbados mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 74 – Historic - Barbados fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2005 – 2009
Table 75 – Historic - - Barbados - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2005 – 2009
Table 76 – Historic - Bermuda mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 77 – Historic - Bermuda fixed lines in services – 2003 – 2009
Table 78 – Historic - Bermuda active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2017
Table 79 – Historic - Bermuda fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2009
Table 80 – Historic - BVI fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2005 – 2009
Table 81 – Historic - BVI revenue from telecoms and ICT services – 2009 – 2014
Table 82 – Historic - BVI mobile subscribers and penetration – 2007 – 2009
Table 83 – Historic - Cayman Island subscribers by service – 2005 – 2009
Table 84 – Cayman Island penetration by service – 2005 – 2009
Table 85 – Historic - Dominica communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 86 – Historic - Dominica fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 87 – Historic - Dominica fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 88 – Historic - Dominica mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 89 – Historic - Grenada communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 90 – Historic - Grenada fixed broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2009
Table 91 – Historic - Grenada fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 92 – Grenada mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2018
Table 93 – Historic - Montserrat communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 94 – Historic - Netherlands Antilles fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2014
Table 95 – St Kitts and Nevis communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 96 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis fixed broadband subscribers – 2002 – 2009
Table 97 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 98 – Historic - St Kitts and Nevis fixed-lines in service and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 99 – Historic - St Lucia communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 100 – Historic - St Lucia fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 101 – Historic - St Lucia fixed telephony subscribers – 2006 – 2009
Table 102 – Historic - St Lucia mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 103 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines communications sector revenue – 2008 – 2013
Table 104 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines fixed telephony subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 105 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 106 – Historic - St Vincent and the Grenadines mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Caribbean Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 2 – Caribbean mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 3 – Caribbean fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 4 – Caribbean Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 5 – Change in CWC’s residential revenue by type – 2018 - 2020
Chart 6 – Growth in the number of CWC’s fixed-line RGUs by sector – 2009 - 2020
Chart 7 – Growth in the number of CWC’s mobile subscribers – 2009 - 2020
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 – 2014 – 2019
Chart 12 – Bahamas - Decline in fixed lines in service and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 13 – Bahamas – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2020
Chart 14 – Bahamas – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Chart 15 – Bahamas - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 16 – Barbados - Fixed telephony subscriptions and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 17 – Barbados – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 18 – Barbados - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Chart 19 – Barbados - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2020
Chart 20 – One Communications financial data – 2010 – 2019
Chart 21 – Bermuda – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 22 – Bermuda – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 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 – 2010 – 2020
Chart 27 – Cayman Islands – Change in penetration by service – 2010 – 2020
Chart 28 – Cayman Island telecom and broadcasting revenue – 2008 – 2017
Chart 29 – Dominica – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 30 – Dominica – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 31 – Dominica - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Chart 32 – Granada – Change in the number of subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 33 – Granada – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 34 – Granada - Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 35 – St Kitts and Nevis – Change in subscriber numbers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 36 – St Kitts and Nevis – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 37 – St Kitts and Nevis active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 38 – St Lucia – Change in subscriber numbers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 39 – St Lucia – Change in penetration of services by sector – 2010 – 2020
Chart 40 – St Lucia active mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Chart 41 – St Vincent and the Grenadines – Change in subscribers by sector– 2010 – 2020
Chart 42 – St Vincent and the Grenadines – Change in service penetration – 2010 – 2020
Chart 43 – St Vincent and the Grenadines active mobile broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2020
Chart 44 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom revenue by service – 2013 – 2019
Chart 45 – Trinidad & Tobago telecom subscribers by service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 46 – Trinidad & Tobago penetration by sector – 2012 – 2019
Chart 47 – Trinidad & Tobago ARPU by service (TT$) – 2009 – 2019
Chart 48 – Trinidad & Tobago ARPU by service (TT$) – 2010 – 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, May I congratulate you on a very successful and enjoyable afternoon with the Minister. In providing the roundtable discussions between government and industry, it highlighted the strong interest by stakeholders in Broadband and its implementation but it also presented us with other issues and opportunities that we need to address.

Dominic Schipano, CITT

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Caribbean - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

USD 1,590.00

Caribbean telecom sector revenue affected by COVID-19

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

USD 1,590.00

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Research

Hot Topics

News & Views