2007 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Central Asia

• Key Statistics
• Market and Industry Overviews
• Regulatory Environment and Structural Reform
• Major Players (fixed and mobile)
• Infrastructure development
• Mobile Voice and Data Markets
• Internet, VoIP, IPTV
• Internet, including broadband development

1. ARMENIA

1.1 Key statistics

1.2 Telecommunications market

1.2.1 Overview of Armenia’s telecom market

1.3 Regulatory environment

1.3.1 Telecommunications Law 1998

1.3.2 Unconstitutional monopoly

1.4 Fixed network operators in Armenia

1.4.1 Armenia Telephone Company (ArmenTel)

1.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

1.5.1 Local and national

1.5.2 International

1.6 Internet market

1.6.1 Overview

1.6.2 ISP market

1.7 Mobile communications

1.7.1 Overview of Armenia’s mobile market

1.7.2 Major mobile operators

1.7.3 K-Telecom (VivaCell)

2. AZERBAIJAN

2.1 Key statistics

2.2 Telecommunications market

2.2.1 Overview of Azerbaijan’s telecom market

2.3 Regulatory environment

2.3.1 Overview

2.3.2 National Communication Technologies Strategy

2.3.3 World Bank project

2.4 Fixed network operators in Azerbaijan

2.4.1 Aztelekom

2.4.2 AzEuroTel

2.4.3 Terracom Inc (Fire Telecom) - EurAsiaCom

2.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

2.5.1 National telecom network

2.5.2 International infrastructure

2.6 Internet market

2.6.1 Overview

2.6.2 ISP market

2.6.3 Broadband market

2.7 Mobile communications

2.7.1 Overview of Azerbaijan’s mobile market

2.7.2 Mobile technologies

2.7.3 Major mobile operators

2.8 Forecasts

2.8.1 Introduction

2.8.2 Forecasts - fixed-line services

2.8.3 Forecasts - Internet services

2.8.4 Forecasts - mobile services

3. BHUTAN

3.1 Key statistics

3.2 Telecommunications market

3.2.1 Overview of Bhutan’s telecom market

3.3 Regulatory environment

3.3.1 Bhutan Telecommunications Act 1999

3.3.2 Bhutan Information Communications and Media Act 2006

3.4 Fixed network operator in Bhutan

3.4.1 Bhutan Telecom

3.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

3.5.1 National telecom network

3.5.2 International infrastructure

3.6 Internet market

3.6.1 Overview

3.6.2 ISP market

3.7 Mobile communications

3.7.1 Overview of Bhutan’s mobile market

4. GEORGIA

4.1 Key statistics

4.2 Telecommunications market

4.2.1 Overview of Georgia’s telecom market

4.3 Regulatory environment

4.3.1 Regulatory authority

4.3.2 Privatisation

4.4 Fixed network operators in Georgia

4.4.1 Akhali Kselebi Ltd (NewNet Telecommunications)

4.4.2 Egrisi

4.4.3 Sakartvelos Elektrokavshiri (United Telecom of Georgia)

4.4.4 Sakartvelos Telekomi (Telecom Georgia)

4.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

4.5.1 National telecom network

4.5.2 International infrastructure

4.6 Internet market

4.6.1 Overview

4.6.2 ISP market

4.7 Mobile communications

4.7.1 Overview of Georgia’s mobile market

4.7.2 Mobile technologies

4.7.3 Major mobile operators

4.8 Forecasts

4.8.1 Introduction

4.8.2 Forecasts - fixed-line services

4.8.3 Forecasts - Internet services

4.8.4 Forecasts - mobile services

5. KAZAKHSTAN

5.1 Key statistics

5.2 Telecommunications market

5.2.1 Overview of Kazakhstan’s telecom market

5.3 Regulatory environment

5.3.1 Regulatory authority

5.3.2 Liberalisation and regulatory development

5.3.3 Privatisation

5.4 Fixed network operators in Kazakhstan

5.4.1 Astel

5.4.2 Ducat (formerly Kazintel)

5.4.3 Kazakhtelecom

5.4.4 KazInformTelecom (KIT)

5.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

5.5.1 National telecom network

5.5.2 International infrastructure

5.6 Internet market

5.6.1 Overview

5.6.2 ISP market

5.7 Mobile communications

5.7.1 Overview of Kazakhstan’s mobile market

5.7.2 Mobile technologies

5.7.3 Major mobile operators

5.7.4 Trunk Mobile Radio (TMR)

5.8 Forecasts

5.8.1 Overview

5.8.2 Forecasts - fixed-line services

5.8.3 Forecasts - Internet services

5.8.4 Forecasts - mobile services

6. KYRGYZSTAN

6.1 Key statistics

6.2 Telecommunications market

6.2.1 Overview of Kyrgyzstan’s telecoms market

6.2.2 Government projects

6.3 Regulatory environment

6.3.1 Regulatory authority

6.3.2 Privatisation of Kyrgyztelecom

6.4 Fixed network operators in Kyrgyzstan

6.4.1 Kyrgyztelecom

6.4.2 Others

6.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

6.5.1 National telecom network

6.5.2 International infrastructure

6.6 Internet market

6.6.1 Overview

6.6.2 ISP market

6.7 Mobile communications

6.7.1 Overview of Kyrgyzstan’s mobile market

6.7.2 Major mobile operators

7. MONGOLIA

7.1 Key statistics

7.2 Telecommunications market

7.2.1 Overview of Mongolia’s telecom market

7.3 Regulatory environment

7.3.1 Background

7.3.2 Communications Regulatory Commission (CTC)

7.3.3 Information & Communication Technology Authority (ICTA)

7.3.4 Mongolian Information and Communications Vision 2010

7.3.5 Competitive environment

7.3.6 Interconnection

7.4 Fixed network operators in Mongolia

7.4.1 Mongolia Telecom

7.4.2 Mongolian Railways Communications

7.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

7.5.1 National telecom network

7.5.2 International infrastructure

7.6 Internet market

7.6.1 Overview

7.6.2 Mongolia Internet Exchange (MIX)

7.6.3 ISP market

7.7 Broadband market

7.7.1 Fibre-to-the-building (FttB) project

7.7.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

7.8 Mobile communications

7.8.1 Overview of Mongolia’s mobile market

7.8.2 Major mobile operators

8. NEPAL

8.1 Key statistics

8.2 Telecommunications market

8.2.1 Overview of Nepal’s telecom market

8.2.2 Political crisis and resolution

8.3 Regulatory environment

8.3.1 Regulatory authority

8.3.2 Telecommunications Policy 1999

8.3.3 Telecommunications Policy 2004

8.3.4 Telecom sector liberalisation and licensing

8.3.5 Foreign assistance

8.3.6 Privatisation of Nepal Telecom

8.4 Basic telephone service providers in Nepal

8.4.1 Nepal Doorsanchar Co Ltd / Nepal Telecom

8.4.2 United Telecom Ltd (UTL)

8.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

8.5.1 National telecom network

8.5.2 International infrastructure

8.6 Internet market

8.6.1 Overview

8.6.2 ISP market

8.7 Mobile communications

8.7.1 Overview of Nepal’s mobile market

8.7.2 Major mobile operators

8.7.3 Satellite mobile

8.8 Forecasts

8.8.1 Introduction

8.8.2 Forecasts - fixed-line services

8.8.3 Forecasts - Internet services

8.8.4 Forecasts - mobile services

9. TAJIKISTAN

9.1 Key statistics

9.2 Telecommunications market

9.2.1 Overview of Tajikistan’s telecom market

9.3 Regulatory environment

9.3.1 Tajikistan Law on Electrical Communication

9.3.2 Regulatory authority

9.3.3 Privatisation of Tajiktelecom

9.3.4 Liberalisation

9.4 Fixed network operator in Tajikistan

9.4.1 Tajiktelecom

9.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

9.5.1 National and international

9.5.2 Infrastructure developments

9.6 Internet market

9.6.1 Overview

9.6.2 Censorship

9.7 Mobile communications

9.7.1 Overview of Tajikistan’s mobile market

9.7.2 Mobile technologies

9.7.3 Major mobile operators

10. TURKMENISTAN

10.1 Key statistics

10.2 Telecommunications market

10.2.1 Overview of Turkmenistan’s telecom market

10.3 Regulatory environment

10.4 Telecommunications infrastructure

10.4.1 National and international

10.5 Internet market

10.5.1 Overview

10.5.2 Censorship

10.6 Mobile communications

10.6.1 Overview of Turkmenistan’s mobile market

10.6.2 Major mobile operators

11. UZBEKISTAN

11.1 Key statistics

11.2 Telecommunications market

11.2.1 Overview of Uzbekistan’s telecom market

11.3 Regulatory environment

11.3.1 Overview

11.3.2 Privatisation of Uzbektelecom

11.4 Fixed network operators in Uzbekistan

11.4.1 Uzbektelecom

11.4.2 Buzton

11.4.3 East Telecom

11.5 Telecommunications infrastructure

11.5.1 National telecom network

11.5.2 Satellite communications

11.6 Internet market

11.6.1 Overview

11.6.2 ISP market

11.7 Mobile communications

11.7.1 Overview of Uzbekistan’s mobile market

11.7.2 Major mobile operators

11.7.3 Other mobile operators

11.8 Forecasts

11.8.1 Forecasts - fixed-line services

11.8.2 Forecasts - Internet services

11.8.3 Forecasts - mobile services

12. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Level of competition by market segment - 2006

Exhibit 2 - Sakartvelos Elektrokavshiri’s Tbilisi network infrastructure

Exhibit 3 - Kazakhtelecom’s modernisation program for telecommunications - 2004 - 2007

Exhibit 4 - Construction of the National Information Highway (NIH) backbone

List of Tables

Table 1 - Country statistics Armenia - 2006

Table 2 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 3 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 4 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 5 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 6 - National telecommunications authority

Table 7 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1991 - 2006

Table 8 - Internet users - 1994 - 2006

Table 9 - Internet subscribers - 2000 - 2006

Table 10 - Mobile subscribers by operator and annual change - 2006

Table 11 - Mobile subscribers - 1996 - 2006

Table 12 - Country statistics Azerbaijan - 2006

Table 13 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 14 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 15 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 16 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 17 - National telecommunications authorities

Table 18 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006

Table 19 - Internet users - 1995 - 2006

Table 20 - Internet subscribers - 1997 - 2006

Table 21 - Mobile subscribers by operator and annual change - 2006

Table 22 - Mobile subscribers - 1994 - 2006

Table 23 - Forecast fixed line growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 24 - Forecast fixed line growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 25 - Forecast Internet growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 26 - Forecast Internet growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 27 - Forecast mobile growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 28 - Forecast mobile growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 29 - Country statistics Bhutan - 2006

Table 30 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 31 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 32 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 33 - Mobile statistics - March 2007

Table 34 - National telecommunications authorities

Table 35 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006

Table 36 - Internet users and penetration - 1999 - 2006

Table 37 - Mobile subscribers - 2004 - 2007

Table 38 - Country statistics Georgia - 2006

Table 39 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 40 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 41 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 42 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 43 - National telecommunications authority

Table 44 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006

Table 45 - Internet users and penetration - 1996 - 2006

Table 46 - Internet subscribers - 2001 - 2006

Table 47 - Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator - 2006

Table 48 - Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1995 - 2006

Table 49 - Forecast fixed line growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 50 - Forecast fixed line growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 51 - Forecast Internet growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 52 - Forecast Internet growth - upper forecast - 2005; 2010; 2015

Table 53 - Forecast mobile growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 54 - Forecast mobile growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 55 - Country statistics Kazakhstan - 2006

Table 56 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 57 - Internet user statistics - April 2007

Table 58 - Mobile statistics - March 2007

Table 59 - National telecommunications authority

Table 60 - Kazakhtelecom urban and rural fixed-line subscribers - August 2006

Table 61 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006

Table 62 - Internet bandwidth capacity - 2002; 2005 - 2006

Table 63 - Internet users - 1996 - 2007

Table 64 - Estimated Internet subscribers - 1996 - 2007

Table 65 - Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator - March 2007

Table 66 - Mobile subscribers and annual growth - 1996 - 2007

Table 67 - Forecast fixed line growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 68 - Forecast fixed line growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 69 - Forecast Internet growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 70 - Forecast Internet growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 71 - Forecast mobile growth - lower forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 72 - Forecast mobile growth - upper forecast - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 73 - Country statistics Kyrgyzstan - 2006

Table 74 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 75 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 76 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 77 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 78 - National telecommunications authority

Table 79 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1991 - 2006

Table 80 - Internet users - 1998 - 2006

Table 81 - Internet subscribers - 1998 - 2006

Table 82 - Mobile subscribers and annual change - 2006

Table 83 - Mobile subscribers, penetration and annual change - 1998 - 2006

Table 84 - Country statistics Mongolia - 2006

Table 85 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 86 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 87 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 88 - Mobile statistics - March 2007

Table 89 - National telecommunications authorities

Table 90 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1994 - 2006

Table 91 - Internet users - 1996 - 2006

Table 92 - Internet subscribers - 1998 - 2006

Table 93 - International bandwidth - 2000 - 2005

Table 94 - Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator - March 2007

Table 95 - Mobile subscribers, penetration and annual change - 1996 - 2007

Table 96 - Country statistics Nepal - 2006

Table 97 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2006

Table 98 - Telephone network statistics - April 2007

Table 99 - Internet user statistics - April 2007

Table 100 - Mobile statistics - March 2007

Table 101 - National telecommunications authority

Table 102 - ARPU by market segment - April 2007

Table 103 - Licences issued for telecom services - April 2007

Table 104 - NTC rural penetration levels - April 2006

Table 105 - Fixed-lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2007

Table 106 - Telephone demand forecasts - 2007; 2012; 2017

Table 107 - Estimated Internet users - 1997 - 2007

Table 108 - Internet subscribers - 1999 - 2007

Table 109 - Subscribers and market share of major ISPs - April 2007

Table 110 - Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator - March 2007

Table 111 - Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration - 1999 - 2007

Table 112 - Mobile prepaid versus postpaid subscribers - April 2007

Table 113 - Forecast fixed-line growth - low growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 114 - Forecast fixed-line growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 115 - Forecast Internet subscriber growth - low growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 116 - Forecast Internet subscriber growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 117 - Forecast mobile subscriber growth - lower growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 118 - Forecast mobile subscriber growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 119 - Country statistics Tajikistan - 2006

Table 120 - Telecom revenue and investment statistics - 2005

Table 121 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 122 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 123 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 124 - National telecommunications authorities

Table 125 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1995 - 2006

Table 126 - Internet users - 1999 - 2006

Table 127 - Internet subscribers - 1999 - 2006

Table 128 - Mobile operators, technology, subscribers and annual change - 2006

Table 129 - Mobile subscribers and annual change - 1996 - 2006

Table 130 - Country statistics Turkmenistan - 2006

Table 131 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 132 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 133 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 134 - National telecommunications authority

Table 135 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1991 - 2006

Table 136 - Internet users - 1999 - 2006

Table 137 - Mobile operator, technology, subscribers and annual change - 2006

Table 138 - Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2006

Table 139 - Country statistics Uzbekistan - 2006

Table 140 - Telephone network statistics - 2006

Table 141 - Internet user statistics - 2006

Table 142 - Mobile statistics - 2006

Table 143 - National telecommunications authority

Table 144 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1991 - 2006

Table 145 - Internet users - 1999 - 2006

Table 146 - Internet subscribers - 1999 - 2006

Table 147 - Mobile operators, technology, subscribers and annual change - 2006

Table 148 - Mobile subscribers, penetration and annual change - 1995 - 2006

Table 149 - Uzdunrobita mobile subscribers - 1998 - 2006

Table 150 - Unitel subscribers - 1998 - 2006

Table 151 - Forecast fixed line growth - low growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 152 - Forecast fixed line growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 153 - Forecast Internet growth - low growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 154 - Forecast Internet growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 155 - Forecast mobile growth - low growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015

Table 156 - Forecast mobile growth - high growth scenario - 2006; 2010; 2015