DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/780fe0/liberia_telecoms) has announced the addition of the "Liberia - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts" report to their offering.
International fibre to land in 2011/12.
Seven years into peace, following more than a decade of civil war which destroyed much of its infrastructure, Liberia became a prime example of an almost entirely wireless telecommunications market. Four GSM mobile operators are competing for customers - LoneStar (majority owned by South Africa's MTN), Comium, Cellcom and LiberCell.
Internet services are available from a number of wireless ISPs and the mobile networks using GPRS, EDGE and WiMAX technology. The high cost and limited bandwidth of existing satellite connections means that most service offerings today are expensive and below broadband speed. Improvements can be expected from the landing of an international fibre-optic submarine cable in the country for the first time in 2011/12.
In the mobile sector, competition has led to some of the lowest call prices in Africa despite the expensive operating environment due to the lack of basic infrastructure in the country. However, the harmonisation of the disorderly licensing and spectrum allocation regime inherited from previous governments is proving difficult. Market penetration is still below the African average but growing faster than in most other countries in the region.
An attempt at privatising the dysfunctional fixed network operator, the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (now Libtelco) failed in 2005. Since then, efforts to resuscitate the previously neglected incumbent have continued successfully with a wireless 3G system based on CDMA EV-DO technology enabling it to enter the mobile market as a fifth player and to provide wireless broadband services. There are also plans for a national fibre backbone network. These assets would create an attractive opportunity to a strategic investor in a likely renewed privatisation in the near future.
Market highlights:
- Forecasts to end-2011 for mobile, fixed-line and Internet market
- Profiles of major players in all market sectors
- National fibre plans
- Privatisation of Libtelco expected
- Second WiMAX licence issued
- International fibre optic submarine cables to arrive in 2011/12
- Broadband pricing trends 2008-2010. Estimated market penetration rates in Liberia's telecoms sector - end-2010
Market Penetration rate:
- Mobile 47%
- Fixed 0.1%
- Internet 1.7%
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Liberia's telecommunications market.
Subjects covered include:
- Key statistics
- Market and industry overviews
- Regulatory environment and structural reform
- Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband)
- Infrastructure development
- Mobile voice and data markets
- Average Revenue per User
- Internet and broadband development and pricing
- Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).
For those needing high-level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecommunications sector in Liberia, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:
- A telecommunications market almost entirely based on wireless technologies
- Government policies affecting the telecoms industry
- Market liberalisation and regulatory issues
- The impact of the global economic crisis
- Telecoms operators - privatisation, acquisitions, IPOs, new licences
- Internet and broadband development and growth
- Broadband and mobile data services and pricing trends
- Mobile Average Revenue per User
Key Topics Covered:
1. Executive summary
2. Key statistics
3. Telecommunications market
4. Regulatory environment
5. Fixed-line operators in Liberia
6. International infrastructure
7. Internet market
8. Broadband market
9. Mobile communications
Companies Mentioned:
- WAT
- MTN Liberia (LoneStar)
- Cellcom
- Comium
- LiberCell
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/780fe0/liberia_telecoms