Iceland Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: April 2024

Report Pages: 186

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Iceland begins close-down of the PSTN

Iceland has one of the smallest yet most progressive telecom markets in Europe. The country in 2020 became the top in Europe for fibre penetration. It aims to provide a fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s to 99.9% of the population by the end of 2021, an ambitious target by international standards and one which it is likely to achieve given the progress which operators have made in extending the reach of fibre networks.

There is effective competition in the mobile and broadband markets, with a number of players having emerged to challenge the dominance of the two leading operators Síminn and Sýn, which have interests across the telecom sectors. Sýn was formerly Vodafone Iceland before being rebranded to reflect the company’s move into broadband and broadcasting following its December 2017 acquisition of most of the telecoms and media interests of 365 Media. The new entrant, Nova, has become the leading player in the mobile market and has quickly expanded its presence in the fixed-line segment, particularly in fibre.

The telecom market has shown some resilience in recent years following the significant economic downturn a decade ago, supported by continuing investment in mobile and fixed-line broadband infrastructure by operators and well as by the government’s Telecommunications Fund which is supporting Next Generation Access networks, particularly in rural areas.

Key developments:

Iceland becomes top-ranked European country for FttP penetration;
Sýn signs sale and leaseback deal for its passive infrastructure;
Síminn contracts Ericsson to build its 5G RAN, aiming for national 5G coverage by end-2022;
Government adds ISK450 million to Telecommunications Fund for fibre network builds;
Farice contracts builder for the IRIS submarine cable to Ireland;
Síminn begins process to close down its PSTN;
Sýn extends 500Mb/s FttP service to northern areas of Iceland;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2021, operator data to Q1 2022, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Sýn (Vodafone Iceland), Síminn, Nova, Tal, 365 Media.

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

Historical overview

Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Privatisation
Interconnect
Access
Number Portability (NP)
Carrier preselection (CPS)
European Electronic Communications Code

Mobile network developments

Roaming
Network sharing
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
Spectrum licensing
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum auctions

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

Analogue networks
Digital networks
M2M networks
Mobile data services
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Síminn
Sýn
Nova

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO)

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Government policies
Fixed-line broadband technologies

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

Fixed network operators

Síminn
Sýn

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
VoIP
International infrastructure

Data centres
Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Iceland – 2022 (e)
Table 2 – Development of telecom market revenue (ISK billion) by sector – 2012 – 2021
Table 3 – Development of telecom market investment (ISK billion) by sector – 2012 – 2021
Table 4 – Change in the number of fixed number portings – 2013 – 2021
Table 5 – Growth in the number of mobile numbers ported – 2013 – 2021
Table 6 – Growth in the number of mobile voice subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Change in the number of mobile voice subscribers (thousand) by operator (regulator data) – 2012 – 2021
Table 8 – Change in mobile market share of voice subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 9 – Growth in mobile voice traffic (Million minutes) by type – 2012 – 2021
Table 10 – Change in mobile sector revenue – 2012 – 2021
Table 11 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract market subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 12 – Development in the number of prepaid subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 13 – Change in the number of active mobile phone cards by type – 2012 – 2021
Table 14 – Change in the proportion of active GSM and 3G cards – 2012 – 2021
Table 15 – Growth in the number of M2M subscriptions – 2013 – 2021
Table 16 – Growth in mobile data only traffic (TB) by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 17 – Growth in mobile data traffic (PB) by type – 2012 – 2021
Table 18 – Increase in the number of mobile data-only subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 19 – Decline in the number of SMS (Million) traffic by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 20 – Change in the number of MMS (Thousand) traffic by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 21 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by operator (voice and data) – 2012 – 2021
Table 22 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 23 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband data only subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Growth in fixed internet and data revenue – 2012 – 2021
Table 25 – Development of fixed broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2021
Table 26 – Broadband penetration by access type – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 28 – Annual growth in DSL and fibre lines – 2012 – 2021
Table 29 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 30 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 31 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed – 2015 – 2021
Table 32 – Change in the proportion of broadband connections by speed, new style (Mb/s) – 2015 – 2021
Table 33 – Growth in the number of fibre subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 34 – Growth in fibre market share of fixed broadband connections – 2012 – 2021
Table 35 – Decline in the number of wireless broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 36 – Development of Síminn Group’s financial data (ISK billion) – 2012 – 2022
Table 37 – Development of Síminn Group’s revenue (ISK billion) by type – 2016 – 2022
Table 38 – Development of Sýn’s financial data (ISK billion) – 2012 – 2022
Table 39 – Development of Sýn’s revenue (ISK billion) by sector – 2017 – 2022
Table 40 – Change in the number of fixed-line access channels: PSTN and ISDN – 2012 – 2021
Table 41 – Decline in the number of fixed-lines in service and Teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 42 – Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2021
Table 43 – Change in fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 44 – Decline in fixed-line traffic (PSTN/ISDN) (million minutes) – 2012 – 2021
Table 45 – Development of fixed-line revenue (ISK billion) – 2012 – 2021
Table 46 – Change in the number of VoIP and IP connections – 2012 – 2021
Table 47 – International internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2017
Table 48 – Historic - Telecom market revenue (Krona million) by sector – 2004 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - Telecom market investment (Krona million) by sector – 2004 – 2011
Table 50 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1997 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - Mobile subscribers (thousand): analogue and GSM – 1995 – 2012
Table 52 – Historic - Mobile voice traffic (Million minutes) – 2000 – 2011
Table 53 – Historic - Prepaid and contract market subscribers – 2000 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - SMS traffic by operator (million) – 2000 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1996 – 2015
Table 56 – Historic - Broadband subscribers – 2002 – 2011
Table 57 – Historic - DSL subscribers by operator – 2004 – 2011
Table 58 – Historic - Fibre subscribers by operator – 2005 – 2011
Table 59 – Historic - Annual growth in DSL and fibre lines – 2001 – 2011
Table 60 – Historic - Fibre market share of fixed broadband connections – 2003 – 2011
Table 61 – Historic - Dial-up internet calls – 2007 – 2017
Table 62 – Historic - Fixed-line access channels (thousand): PSTN and ISDN – 1995 – 2011
Table 63 – Historic - Fixed-line traffic (PSTN/ISDN) (Million minutes) – 2000 – 2011
Table 64 – Historic - Fixed-line (PSTN) subscribers by operator – 2006 – 2016
Table 65 – Historic - Proportion of broadband connections by speed, old style (Mb/s) – 2015 – 2017
Table 66 – Historic - Satellite broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2017
Table 67 – Historic - Wireless broadband subscribers – 2004 – 2011
Table 68 – Historic - Síminn Group financial data (ISK billion) – 2006 – 2011
Table 69 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2001 – 2011
Table 70 – Historic - Change in the number of mobile voice subscribers by operator (regulator data) – 2005 – 2011
Table 71 – Historic - Change in mobile market share of voice subscribers by operator – 2006 – 2011
Table 72 – Historic - Change in mobile sector revenue – 2007 – 2011
Table 73 – Historic - Development in the number of prepaid subscribers by operator – 2006 – 2011
Table 74 – Historic - Change in the number of active mobile phone cards by type – 2006 – 2011
Table 75 – Historic - Change in the proportion of active GMS and UMTS cards – 2008 – 2011
Table 76 – Historic - Growth in mobile data only traffic (GB) by operator – 2008 – 2011
Table 77 – Historic - Growth in mobile data traffic (GB) by type – 2008 – 2011
Table 78 – Historic - Change in the number of MMS (thousand) traffic by operator – 2007 – 2011
Table 79 – Historic - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2011
Table 80 – Historic - Growth in fixed internet and data revenue – 2007 – 2011
Table 81 – Historic - Broadband penetration by access type – 2004 – 2011
Table 82 – Historic - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2011
Table 83 – Historic - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by operator – 2008 – 2011
Table 84 – Historic - Decline in the number of fixed-lines in service and penetration – 2009 – 2011
Table 85 – Historic - Change in fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2006 – 2011
Table 86 – Historic - Development of fixed-line revenue (Krona billion) – 2007 – 2011
Table 87 – Historic - Change in the number of VoIP and IP connections – 2007 – 2011

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 market revenue by sector – 2012 – 2021
Chart 11 – Development of telecom market investment by sector – 2012 – 2021
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of mobile voice subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 13 – Change in the number of mobile voice subscribers by operator (regulator data) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 14 – Change in mobile market share of voice subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 15 – Growth in mobile voice traffic by type – 2012 – 2021
Chart 16 – Change in mobile sector revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 17 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract market subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 18 – Development in the number of prepaid subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 19 – Change in the number of active mobile phone cards by type – 2012 – 2021
Chart 20 – Change in the proportion of active GMS and 3G cards – 2012 – 2021
Chart 21 – Growth in the number of M2M subscriptions – 2013 – 2021
Chart 22 – Growth in mobile data traffic by type – 2012 – 2021
Chart 23 – Decline in the number of SMS traffic by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 24 – Change in the number of MMS traffic by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 25 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by operator (voice and data) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 26 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 27 – Growth in fixed internet and data revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 28 – Development of fixed broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2021
Chart 29 – Broadband penetration by access type – 2012 – 2021
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 31 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 32 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 33 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed – 2015 – 2021
Chart 34 – Change in the proportion of broadband connections by speed, new style (Mb/s) – 2015 – 2021
Chart 35 – Development of Síminn Group’s financial data – 2012 – 2022
Chart 36 – Development of Síminn Group’s revenue by type – 2016 – 2022
Chart 37 – Development of Sýn’s financial data – 2012 – 2022
Chart 38 – Development of Sýn’s revenue by sector – 2017 – 2022
Chart 39 – Decline in the number of fixed-lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 40 – Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2021
Chart 41 – Change in fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2015 – 2021
Chart 42 – Decline in fixed-line traffic (PSTN/ISDN) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 43 – Development of fixed-line revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 44 – Change in the number of VoIP and IP connections – 2012 – 2021

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 – Spectrum auction results (700MHz, 800MHz, 2.1GHz, 26.8GHz) – June 2017

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Iceland Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Iceland begins close-down of the PSTN

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

Data centres

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