In today’s high paced telecommunications industry, companies are continually evolving. To ensure that you are always up to date with the latest happenings here at Totel, we provide regularly updated information of any changes that take place within our Company.
 Australia - Mobile Communications - Retail Market
Synopsis
The mobile retail market is currently dominated by retail chains directly affiliated with major operators and franchise chains which are often backed by large corporations. Independent retailers have been squeezed between these two groups. As a result of increased competition and lower margins some outlets are likely to close in 2010. While margins have been under pressure sales volumes have been remarkably resilient in the face of difficult economic conditions in Australia in 2009. Though total sales volumes are likely to be flat in 2009, sales of high-end handsets and smart phones have grown dramatically at the expense of mid-range phones. This has been driven by two major factors: large subsidies provided by mobile operators for high-end handsets such as the Apple iPhone, and a government stimulus package in early 2009 which provided a one-off $900 tax rebate to a large proportion of taxpayers. Both factors may prove to be short term boosts for the market. Should a poor economic climate persist in Australia in 2010 then the retail market is likely to shrink further.
Last Update: 21 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 10
Single User: USD $55.00 ex-GST View table of contents.
Australia - Digital Media - E-Health
Synopsis
E-health may become an area where key killer applications which utilise truly high-speed broadband networks emerge. The Australian Government is a leader in strategic trans-sector thinking, linking e-health developments to the National Broadband Network (NBN). Early diagnosis and after-treatment patient monitoring are two areas where significant synergies may be found using applications provided to users at home.
As the financing of the public health systems in Australia becomes increasingly costly, an opportunity exists to lower costs through more effective use of web services for healthcare consumers. With widely available and cost effective high-speed broadband infrastructure, e-health is enabling customers to benefit from advances in medical technology and medical services.
While broader economic conditions in Australia may be subdued until 2011, spending on e-health solutions is likely to be boosted as part of the larger economic stimulus packages the government is currently enacting. This report concentrates on developments and projects in Australia specifically.
Last Update: 21 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 26
Single User: USD $75.00 ex-GST View table of contents.
Laos - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts
Executive summary
After a number of decades of having to struggle with a poorly performing economy and a commercial environment that was in desperate need of reform, in the last four of five years there has been a noticeable shift in the outlook for Laos with positive news being reported on many fronts. Most importantly, a significant number of hydro-electric power projects and mining ventures have already become or are moving closer to a reality, with more possible projects in the pipeline. Laos is at last moving forward in what might be described as a confident fashion. It is also moving forward in its efforts to strengthen both its telecommunications infrastructure and its regulatory regime, in its efforts to attract more foreign investment into the sector and in its efforts to introduce the latest telecom technologies. The slowest of these is arguably reform to its regulatory regime, although even on that score progress is being made.
With the building of the country's infrastructure continuing to be a priority, by early 2010 fixed-line teledensity was still low at around two telephones per 100 people, with limited growth occurring in that segment of the market; however, growth in the Lao mobile market has continued to surge in a sustained fashion over the last five years. Coming into 2010, mobile penetration had passed the key 50% milestone with the annual growth rate having reached 66% in 2009. This was largely on the back of a particularly strong performance by Unitel, the military-owned operator that has been reinvigorated by the formation of a joint venture with Vietnam's Viettel. In the meantime, Internet services in Laos continue to lag badly, this being a major concern in terms of the overall social and economic development of the country.
While more foreign investment is needed to boost the telecom sector, the government must also be judicious in selecting and licensing new operators to ensure that it gets the best value out of the investment. The joint venture formed by the government with Thai company Shinawatra back in 1996 let the five year period of market exclusivity granted to Lao Telecom pass without any serious attention to infrastructure building. When the market was finally opened up to competition in 2002, foreign capital finally started to flow. The mobile phone market took off in early 2003, with the number of subscribers increasing sevenfold in the two years following. The Lao telecom sector still has many issues to address. The rate of regulatory reform continues to lag well behind industry development and has the potential to derail the progress already made if the reform is not speeded up.
Market highlights:
The mobile market in Laos continued on its positive expansion path in 2009, with annual growth in excess of 60% for the year; growth was continuing at a similar pace early in 2010;
Mobile penetration had reached the important 50% milestone by end-2009;
With the Lao government having licensed six mobile operators, competition had really heated up over the 2008/2009 period, initially putting considerable downward pressure on ARPU;
The market became even more competitive following Vietnam's Viettel forming a joint venture with the military-owned Lao Asia Telecom which was rebranded as Unitel in 2009;
Russia's Vimpelcom brokered a deal in late 2009 to acquire Millicom's 78% stake in Tigo; however, the acquisition was still awaiting regulatory approval in June 2010;
The launch of Lao Telecom's 3G service in late 2008 had been an important move for the local telecom sector, but by early 2010 growth in 3G subscriptions remained modest;
Lao Telecom's Wireless Local Loop (WLL) offering has continued to provide some fresh impetus in the fixed-line market, although overall subscriber growth remains modest;
The low penetration and sluggish development of Internet services continues to be a problem for both the local telecom industry in particular and the country in general, especially given how crucial online access is to national growth.Laos - key telecom parameters - 2009 - 2010
Category20092010 (e)
Fixed-line services:
Total number of subscribers1132,000141,000
Annual growth5%7%
Fixed-line penetration (population)2%2%
Fixed-line penetration (household)11%12%
Internet:
Total number of subscribers15,60018,800
Annual growth18%20%
Internet subscriber penetration (population)0.2%0.3%
Internet subscriber penetration (household)1%1.5%
Proportion of broadband subscribers (% of total Internet subscribers53%56%
Mobile services:
Total number of subscribers3.2 million4.4 million
Annual growth66%33%
Mobile penetration (population)50%68%
(Source: BuddeComm)
Notes: 1These figures include Wireless Local Loop (WLL) subscribers
This report provides an overview of the trends and developments in the telecommunications markets in Laos. Subjects covered include:
Key Statistics;
Market and Industry Overviews;
Major Operators (Mobile and Fixed)
Regulatory Environment;
Infrastructure;
Mobile Market;
Internet Market, including Broadband.
Last Update: 21 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 32
Single User: USD $220.00 ex-GST View table of contents.
Global - Mobile - Handset Market
Synopsis
Handset sales in Q1 2010 were higher than expected, due to a strong growth in global smart phone sales and also the continuing uptake of unbranded low cost mobile devices in emerging markets. The handset sector also saw the release of Apple's iPhone 4 and it is predicted that iPhone sales in 2010 will be much higher than in previous years. The rise of the smart phone is at the expense of the more traditional players however, which are now beginning to feel the impact from the competitive threats from iPhone and Google Android. This report provides overall global statistics and forecasts for mobile handsets, including growth, sales and revenue. Current and historical global market share for the top handset suppliers is also included. The report also provides information on key trends and developments in the industry, including the rise of smart phones.
Last Update: 21 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 13
Single User: USD $70.00 ex-GST View table of contents.
Yemen - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband
Executive summary
Yemen is much the poorest country in the Middle East and economic difficulties are numerous. Around 35% of the population is below the poverty line. The telecoms sector reflects this situation. In addition the market has had little liberalisation, competition or private investment outside the mobile sector. All fixed-line and Internet services are provided by state-owned PTC and its subsidiaries.
Infrastructure improvement has been slow and fixed-line penetration remains at less than 5%. ADSL broadband services have been launched however and both dial-up and broadband Internet subscribers are growing steadily but from a very small base and Internet user penetration remains at only around 6.5%. Yemen's low literacy rate, at about 50% of the population, is a major reason for low Internet penetration. Among adult women, literacy rates are only around 25%. Low Internet penetration rates also reflect the small number of computers in the country. Most Internet users access the Internet at Internet cafes, of which there were nearly 1,000 in 2009.
Internet censorship is very strict - even local sites such as the UAE-based Arab portal Maktoob and Yemeni news portal YemenPortal.net have been blocked.
Mobile telecoms are the big success story. Steady growth over the past two years has seen penetration rates rise to over 30%. Batelco of Bahrain and MTN of South Africa have major shares in GSM mobile operators. They each have about a third of the market with the majority state-owned CDMA operator Yemen Mobile also having around one third market share. Newer operator ‘Y' remains a smaller player.
ARPU levels are very low at only around US$7 per month and this may account for the problems that arose with the sale of a third GSM licence, a process that took at least two years and resulted in a not entirely satisfactory outcome. As most other Middle East markets are becoming totally saturated, Yemen will probably remain of interest as one of the few markets with potential for growth.
Market highlights:
A very competitive mobile market has delivered steady growth despite very low per capita GDP.
Broadband subscribers are also growing but numbers remain very small.
Last Update: 20 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 20
Single User: USD $170.00 ex-GST View table of contents.
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