2006 Latin America Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Central America   "

Published： 2006-2-15

Hard copy price：RMB 7250.00  

Single user PDF copy price：RMB 6250.00

Pages：113

Tables and figures：119

Edition：5th

This report provides information on Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama. Each country has its own chapter and covers the following subjects.

Key Statistics

Market Overview

Regulatory Environment

Fixed Network Operators

Telecom Infrastructure

Data Market

Internet

Broadband

E-services

Mobile Market Overview

Mobile Operators

Broadcasting"  Telecoms & Computing Annual Research     pages     113  "

Central America is a tropical isthmus that connects North and South America, and separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. It comprises the seven republics of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras Nicaragua Panama. The region is relatively small, extending for about 524,000km². The land is fertile and rugged, and dominated by a string of volcanic mountain ranges.

Belize: The second smallest and most sparsely populated country in Central America, Belize officially opened all fixed-line and wireless telecom services to competition at the end of 2002. Yet, despite theoretical liberalisation, the incumbent, Belize Telecommunications Ltd (BTL), still holds a de facto monopoly. International Telecommunications (Intelco) became BTL’s first competitor in October 2003, but was bankrupt by November 2004, and its subscriber base was taken over by BTL. A third company now has the task of breaking BTL’s monopoly: SpeedNet Communications (SpeedNet), which launched mobile telephony over a CDMA 2000 1X network in March 2005, under the brand name Smart. SpeedNet plans to offer Internet access, wireless broadband and various corporate services as well as mobile telephony.

Costa Rica: Served by a relatively modern and sophisticated telecom infrastructure, Costa Rica has the second highest Internet penetration rate in Latin America, excluding the Caribbean islands, after Chile. Yet, Costa Rica is the least liberalised market in the region. State-owned Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and its subsidiary RACSA are the only providers of both fixed-line and mobile telephony, Internet and data communications – in fact, of virtually all telecom services except for pay TV. Although this situation worked in the past, it is now leading to considerable problems, such as long waiting lists for phones; stifling of new technologies such as VoIP (which threatens ICE’s hegemony); and difficulties in implementing new convergence strategies. January 2004, however, marked a significant step for Costa Rica with the signing of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which calls for a gradual liberalization of the telecom sector.

El Salvador: The country’s telecom market is among the most open in Central America. The government’s liberal approach has allowed new technologies to flourish. Since the sector was privatised and opened to competition in 1998, foreign operators and local companies have invested millions in infrastructure improvements. However, fixed-line teledensity remains relatively low, the network having been devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and by earthquakes of 2001. Mobile telcos have capitalised on the underdeveloped fixed-line network by emphasising their ability to offer a fast, high-quality service with nationwide coverage. The mobile sector has enjoyed sustained growth and mobile phones overtook fixed lines in service in 2002. With a budding VoIP market, and cable TV companies permitted to provide telephone and Internet services, El Salvador is also a promising country for convergence strategies.

Guatemala: While telecom infrastructure in Guatemala is fairly modern in the main urban centres, rural telephony remains inadequate and antiquated, though much improved since the 1996 telecom liberalisation. With a high percentage of the population living in rural areas, the country’s fixed-line teledensity is at the low end of the scale for Latin America. Mobile telephony, on the other hand, has been the fastest growing telecom sector, helped along by one of the most liberal regulatory models in the world. Mobile phones overtook fixed lines in 2001 and there are now more than twice as many mobile phones as lines in service. Guatemala is the most populated country in Central America; with its liberalised market, low teledensity, and growing demand, Guatemala offers promising opportunities for telecom investors.

Honduras: One of the poorest countries in the Latin America, Honduras has one of the least developed telecom infrastructures and the fourth lowest teledensity in the region. But promising changes are on the horizon since the opening of the telecom market to full competition in December 2005. Less than two weeks after the state-owned incumbent Hondutel lost its monopoly over the international long-distance market, Millicom’s mobile operator, Tigo, halved international calling rates. Mobile telephony received a boost in 2004, following the November 2003 launch of a second mobile provider, Aló, and the arrival of América Móvil on the scene, when it acquired Aló in June 2004. Unsatisfied demand for basic telephony has driven a veritable boom in the mobile market, with annual growth rates of over 80%.

Nicaragua: Nicaragua has the second lowest fixed-line teledensity in Latin America, after Haiti. The year 2004, however, brought a few major and promising changes to the telecom market. In January 2004, América Móvil acquired Enitel, previously the state-owned monopoly operator of fixed-line services. In August 2004, América Móvil applied for authorization to merge its mobile subsidiary Aló PCS with Enitel Movil, the mobile arm of Enitel. In October 2004, BellSouth completed the sale of its Nicaraguan unit TCN BellSouth to Telefónica Móviles. As a result, the telecom market in Nicaragua has become a duopoly between Telefónica Móviles and América Móvil. The much awaited telecom liberalisation took place, officially, in April 2005 – proper implementation, however, has been delayed by political and legal wrangles.

Panama: With significant telecom infrastructure, a liberalised market, and serviced by five global fibre optic cables, Panama has become an attractive country for telecom investments. Competition is slow to develop in basic telephony, where the incumbent Cable & Wireless Panamá is reluctant to unbundle its local network, but the long distance sector has attracted several players, leading to huge price drops, especially in international calls. Mobile telephony overtook fixed lines in 2001 and has been steadily growing. In the Internet market, although penetration is still low, dial-up and ADSL connections are developing at a fast pace; growth potential in this sector is excellent. The leading cable TV company, Cable Onda, has started to offer Triple Play services (converged broadband, telephony and pay TV)." "

1.    BELIZE

1.1   Key statistics

1.2   Telecommunications market

1.2.1       Overview of Belize’s telecom market

1.3   Regulatory environment

1.3.1       Background

1.3.2       Regulatory authority

1.3.3       Belize Telecommunications Act 2002

1.3.4       New licences issued

1.4   Fixed network operator in Belize

1.4.1       Overview of operators

1.4.2       Belize Telecommunications Ltd (BTL)

1.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

1.5.1       National telecom network

1.5.2       International infrastructure

1.6   Internet market

1.6.1       Overview

1.7   Broadband market

1.8   Convergence

1.8.1       Overview of media convergence

1.8.2       Overview of broadcasting market

1.9   Mobile communications

1.9.1       Overview of Belize’s mobile market

1.9.2       Major mobile operators

2.    COSTA RICA

2.1   Key statistics

2.2   Telecommunications market

2.2.1       Overview of Costa Rica’s telecom market

2.3   Regulatory environment

2.3.1       Background

2.3.2       Regulatory authority

2.3.3       Telecom sector liberalisation

2.4   Fixed network operator in Costa Rica

2.4.1       Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)

2.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

2.5.1       National telecom network

2.5.2       International infrastructure

2.5.3       Infrastructure developments

2.6   Internet market

2.6.1       Overview

2.7   Broadband market

2.7.1       Overview

2.7.2       Cable modems

2.7.3       Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)

2.7.4       Wireless broadband

2.8   Convergence

2.8.1       Overview of media convergence

2.8.2       Cable TV

2.8.3       Satellite TV

2.9   Mobile communications

2.9.1       Overview of Costa Rica’s mobile market

2.9.2       Major mobile operators

3.    EL SALVADOR

3.1   Key statistics

3.2   Telecommunications market

3.2.1       Overview of El Salvador’s telecom market

3.3   Regulatory environment

3.3.1       Telecommunications law

3.3.2       Regulatory authority

3.3.3       Privatisation of Antel

3.3.4       Telecom sector liberalisation in El Salvador

3.3.5       Interconnect

3.4   Fixed network operators in El Salvador

3.4.1       Overview of operators

3.4.2       CTE Telecom (América Móvil)

3.4.3       Telefónica

3.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

3.5.1       National telecom network

3.5.2       International infrastructure

3.5.3       Infrastructure developments

3.6   Internet market

3.6.1       Overview

3.7   Broadband market

3.7.1       Overview

3.8   Convergence

3.8.1       Overview of media convergence

3.8.2       Triple play models

3.8.3       Cable TV

3.9   Mobile communications

3.9.1       Overview of El Salvador’s mobile market

3.9.2       Major mobile operators

4.    GUATEMALA

4.1   Key statistics

4.2   Telecommunications market

4.2.1       Overview of Guatemala’s telecom market

4.3   Regulatory environment

4.3.1       History

4.3.2       Regulatory authority

4.3.3       Telecom sector liberalisation in Guatemala

4.3.4       Privatisation of Guatel/Telgua

4.3.5       Interconnection

4.3.6       Foreign investments

4.4   Fixed network operators in Guatemala

4.4.1       Overview of operators

4.4.2       Telgua (América Móvil)

4.4.3       Telefónica Guatemala

4.4.4       Guatel

4.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

4.5.1       National telecom network

4.5.2       International infrastructure

4.5.3       Infrastructure developments

4.6   Internet market

4.6.1       Marker overview

4.7   Broadband market

4.7.1       Market overview

4.8   Convergence

4.8.1       Overview of media convergence

4.8.2       Triple play models

4.8.3       Cable TV

4.8.4       Satellite TV

4.9   Mobile communications

4.9.1       Overview of Guatemala’s mobile market

4.9.2       Regulatory issues

4.9.3       Mobile technologies

4.9.4       Major mobile operators

4.9.5       Mobile voice services in Guatemala

5.    HONDURAS

5.1   Key statistics

5.2   Telecommunications market

5.2.1       Overview of Honduran telecom market

5.3   Regulatory environment

5.3.1       Regulatory authority

5.3.2       Privatisation

5.3.3       Foreign investment

5.3.4       Telecom sector liberalisation in Honduras

5.3.5       ‘Telephony For All’ program

5.4   Fixed network operator in Honduras

5.4.1       Empresa Hondureña de Telecomunicaciones (Hondutel)

5.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

5.5.1       National telecom network

5.5.2       International infrastructure

5.5.3       Infrastructure developments

5.6   Internet market

5.6.1       Overview

5.7   Broadband market

5.7.1       Overview

5.8   Convergence

5.8.1       Overview of media convergence

5.8.2       Triple play models

5.8.3       Cable TV

5.8.4       Satellite TV

5.9   Mobile communications

5.9.1       Overview of the Honduran mobile market

5.9.2       Major mobile operators

6.    NICARAGUA

6.1   Key statistics

6.2   Telecommunications market

6.2.1       Overview of Nicaragua’s telecom market

6.3   Regulatory environment

6.3.1       Background

6.3.2       Regulatory authority

6.3.3       Privatisation

6.3.4       Telecom sector liberalisation in Nicaragua

6.4   Fixed network operators in Nicaragua

6.4.1       Empresa Nicaragüense de Telecomunicaciones (Enitel)

6.4.2       Movistar (Telefónica)

6.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

6.5.1       National telecom network

6.5.2       International infrastructure

6.5.3       Infrastructure developments

6.6   Internet market

6.6.1       Overview

6.7   Broadband market

6.7.1       Overview

6.8   Convergence

6.8.1       Overview of media convergence

6.8.2       Cable TV

6.8.3       Satellite TV

6.9   Mobile communications

6.9.1       Overview of Nicaragua’s mobile market

6.9.2       Major mobile operators

6.9.3       Satellite mobile

7.    PANAMA

7.1   Key statistics

7.2   Telecommunications market

7.2.1       Overview of Panama’s telecom market

7.3   Regulatory environment

7.3.1       Regulatory authority

7.3.2       Privatisation of INTEL

7.3.3       Telecom sector liberalisation

7.3.4       Number portability

7.4   Fixed network operators in Panama

7.4.1       Cable & Wireless Panamá

7.4.2       Telecarrier

7.4.3       Galaxy Communications Corp (ClaroCOM)

7.4.4       Advanced Communication Network

7.4.5       Optynex Telecom

7.5   Telecommunications infrastructure

7.5.1       National telecom network

7.5.2       International infrastructure

7.5.3       Infrastructure developments

7.6   Internet market

7.6.1       Overview

7.7   Broadband market

7.7.1       Overview

7.8   Convergence

7.8.1       Overview of media convergence

7.8.2       Triple play models

7.8.3       Cable TV

7.8.4       Satellite TV

7.9   Mobile communications

7.9.1       Overview of Panama’s mobile market

7.9.2       Major mobile operators

8.    GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

Exhibit 1 – Major submarine cable networks links in Belize

Exhibit 2 – Major submarine cable networks connecting Costa Rica

Exhibit 3 – Major submarine cable networks connecting Guatemala

Exhibit 4 – Major submarine cable networks connecting Honduras

Exhibit 5 – Major submarine cable networks connecting Nicaragua

Exhibit 6 – Major submarine cable networks serving the Caribbean region

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Table 1 – Country statistics Belize – 2004

Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – March 2005

Table 3 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 4 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 5 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 6 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 7 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1996 - 2005

Table 8 – BTL Internet subscribers and annual change percentage – 1999 - 2004

Table 9 – Internet users and user penetration – 1996 - 2004

Table 10 – Internet host computers – 1996 - 2004

Table 11 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1995 - 2005

Table 12 – Country statistics Costa Rica – 2004

Table 13 – Telephone network statistics – 2004

Table 14 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 15 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 16 – Mobile statistics – 2005

Table 17 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 18 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 - 2004

Table 19 – Public payphones – 2000 - 2005

Table 20 – Internet users and user penetration – 1997 - 2004

Table 21 – Internet host computers – 1994 - 2004

Table 22 – RACSA cable modem access lines – 1999 - 2004

Table 23 – Mobile subscribers by operator and technology – June 2005

Table 24 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1998 - 2005

Table 25 – Country statistics El Salvador – 2004

Table 26 – Telephone network statistics – June 2005

Table 27 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 28 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 29 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 30 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 31 – Telecom fixed lines in service and annual change – 2003 - 2005

Table 32 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 - 2005

Table 33 – Public payphones – 1998 - 2004

Table 34 – Internet users and penetration - 1996 - 2004

Table 35 – Internet subscribers and penetration – 2000 - 2004

Table 36 – Internet host computers - 1995 - 2004

Table 37 – Mobile subscribers by operator – June 2005

Table 38 – Mobile operators’ market share – 2003 - 2005

Table 39 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1995 - 2005

Table 40 – CTE Personal subscribers and annual change – 2002 - 2005

Table 41 – Tigo subscribers and annual change – 1996 - 2005

Table 42 – Movistar subscribers and annual change – 2000 - 2005

Table 43 – Digicel subscribers and annual change – 2002 - 2005

Table 44 – Country statistics Guatemala – 2004

Table 45 – Telephone network statistics – June 2005

Table 46 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 47 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 48 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 49 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 50 – Fixed lines in service by operator and market share – 2002 - 2005

Table 51 – Telgua fixed lines installed and annual change – 2000 – 2005

Table 52 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 - 2005

Table 53 – Public and community phones – 2003 - 2005

Table 54 – Internet users and penetration - 1996 – 2004

Table 55 – Internet host computers - 1996 - 2004

Table 56 – Mobile subscribers by operator and technology - June 2005

Table 57 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1996 - 2005

Table 58 – Operator market share - 2000 - 2005

Table 59 – PCS Digital subscribers and annual change – 2000 - 2005

Table 60 – Movistar subscribers and annual change – 2000 - 2005

Table 61 – Comcel subscribers and annual change – 2000 - 2005

Table 62 – Prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2002 - 2005

Table 63 – Country statistics Honduras – 2004

Table 64 – Telecom revenue and investment statistics – 2004

Table 65 – Telephone network statistics – 2004

Table 66 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 67 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 68 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 69 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 70 – Number of operators per service – December 2005

Table 71 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1996 - 2004

Table 72 – Public telephones - 1997 - 2004

Table 73 – Internet users and penetration – 1997 - 2004

Table 74 – Internet host computers and annual change - 1997 - 2004

Table 75 – Pay TV subscribers and annual change - 2002 - 2004

Table 76 – Mobile subscribers by operator and technology - June 2005

Table 77 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2005

Table 78 – Mobile operators’ market share – 2002 - 2005

Table 79 – Prepaid/post-paid ratio - 1997 - 2004

Table 80 – Tigo mobile subscribers and annual change - 2000 - 2005

Table 81 – Aló mobile subscribers and annual change – 2003 - 2005

Table 82 – Country statistics Nicaragua – 2004

Table 83 – Telephone network statistics – 2004

Table 84 – Internet provider statistics – 2005

Table 85 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 86 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 87 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 88 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1996 - 2004

Table 89 – Public telephones – 1998 - 2004

Table 90 – Internet users and user penetration - 1997 - 2004

Table 91 – Internet subscribers - 2002 - 2003

Table 92 – Internet host computers and annual change - 1997 - 2004

Table 93 – Mobile subscribers by operator and technology - June 2005

Table 94 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1998 - 2005

Table 95 – América Móvil – Sercom and Enitel subscribers - 2002 - 2005

Table 96 – Movistar subscribers and annual change - 1999 - 2005

Table 97 – Country statistics Panama – 2004

Table 98 – Telephone network statistics – 2004

Table 99 – Internet provider statistics – 2004

Table 100 – Internet user statistics – 2004

Table 101 – Mobile statistics – June 2005

Table 102 – National telecommunications authorities

Table 103 – Number of telecom concessions - January 2006

Table 104 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1998 - 2004

Table 105 – Public telephones - 1998 - 2004

Table 106 – Internet users and user penetration - 1996 - 2004

Table 107 – Dial-up subscribers - 1998 - 2004

Table 108 – Internet host computers - 1995 - 2004

Table 109 – Broadband subscribers and annual change - 2000 - 2004

Table 110 – Mobile subscribers by operator and technology - June 2005

Table 111 – Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2005

Table 112 – Mobile market share - 2003 - 2005

Table 113 – Post-paid/prepaid proportion - 1998 - 2004

"     

Published： 2006-2-15

Hard copy price：RMB 7250.00  

Single user PDF copy price：RMB 6250.00

Pages：113

Tables and figures：119

Edition：5th