TeliaSonera Eurasian acquisition

By on July 9, 2007 · Leave a Comment 

TeliaSonera said Monday it has signed an agreement to acquire up to 100% of the outstanding shares in MCT Corp., a U.S. based company with majority controlling shareholdings in three Eurasian GSM operators in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and a minority interest in the leading GSM operator in Afghanistan.

The closing of the transaction is pending fulfilment of certain conditions and TeliaSonera estimates that these conditions will be met during the third quarter 2007.

The four GSM operators are:

Uzbek-American Joint Venture “Coscom” LLC (Coscom), the third largest mobile operator in Uzbekistan. MCT has a 99.97% interest in Coscom.

 

   
 

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TeliaSonera Signed Agreement to Expand Presence in Eurasia

By on July 9, 2007 · Leave a Comment 

TeliaSonera AB has signed an agreement to acquire up to 100 percent of the outstanding shares in MCT Corp. (MCT), a U.S.-based company with majority controlling shareholdings in three Eurasian GSM operators in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and a minority interest in the leading GSM operator in Afghanistan. The closing of the transaction is pending fulfilment of certain conditions and TeliaSonera estimates that these conditions will be met during the third quarter 2007.

The four GSM operators are:
- Uzbek-American Joint Venture “Coscom” LLC (Coscom), the third largest mobile operator in Uzbekistan. MCT has a 99.97 percent interest in Coscom.

- CJSC “Indigo Tajikistan” (Indigo-Tajikistan) and CJSC Joint Venture “Somoncom” (Somoncom), combined the second largest mobile operation in Tajikistan. MCT has 60 percent interest in Indigo-Tajikistan and 59.4 percent interest in Somoncom.

- “Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd” (Roshan), the largest mobile operator in Afghanistan. MCT has a 12.25 percent interest in Roshan.

 

   

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Middle East mobile market reaches 150 mln lines – study

By on June 15, 2007 · Leave a Comment 

The Middle East mobile market is expected to pass the milestone of 150 million lines in the second quarter, according to a study from Wireless Intelligence, a joint venture of Ovum and the GSM Association. The market grew 30 percent in 2006 and is now the second fastest growing region in the world. The report estimates that the market will grow around 25 percent this year and pass 50 percent penetration in Q2. Some 97 percent of the total connections in the region are GSM, while eight WCDMA networks are in service, with another five in deployment and two planned. The report expects 1 percent of all connections to use WCDMA by the end of the year. The region is divided between mature markets such as Kuwait or Israel, and fast-growing markets with low penetration rates such as Afghanistan or Iran. Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia represent almost 70 percent of the total connections in Middle East.

   

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Mobile Cellular Statistics (Free)

By on March 15, 2007 · Leave a Comment 

Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
1 Algeria 86 13’661.4 175.5 84.2
2 Angola 25.8 1’611.1 128.6 94.3
3 Benin 55.5 750 68.3 90.8
4 Botswana 222.2 823.1 29.9 86.2
5 Burkina Faso 25.2 633.6 90.5 87.4
6 Burundi 16.3 153 56.5 78.4
7 Cameroon 103.3 2’252.5 85.2 95.7
8 Cape Verde 19.7 81.7 32.9 53.4
9 Central African Rep. 5 100 82.3 90.9
10 Chad 5.5 210 107.2 94.2
11 Comoros - 16.1 - 48.7
12 Congo 70 490 47.6 96.9
13 Congo (Dem. Rep.) 15 2’746.0 183.5 99.6
14 C´te d’Ivoire 473 2’349.4 37.8 90.1
15 Djibouti 0.2 44.1 186.1 80.3
16 Egypt 1’359.9 13’629.6 58.6 56.7
17 Equatorial Guinea 5 96.9 80.9 90.6
18 Eritrea - 40.4 - 51.7
19 Ethiopia 17.8 410.6 87.4 40.2
20 Gabon 120 652.3 40.3 94.3
21 Gambia 5.6 247.5 113.3 84.9
22 Ghana 130 2’842.4 85.3 89.8
23 Guinea 42.1 189 35 85.5
24 Guinea-Bissau - 95 - 90.3
25 Kenya 127.4 4’612.0 105 94.2
26 Lesotho 21.6 249.8 63.2 83.9
27 Liberia 1.5 160 154.5 …
28 Libya 40 234.8 55.7 14.5
29 Madagascar 63.1 510.3 51.9 88.4
30 Malawi 49 429.3 54.4 80.7
31 Mali 10.4 869.6 142.4 92.1
32 Mauritania 15.3 745.6 117.6 94.8
33 Mauritius 180 656.8 29.5 64.8
34 Mayotte - 48.1 - …
35 Morocco 2’342.0 12’392.8 39.5 90.2
36 Mozambique 51.1 1’220.0 88.6 94.6
37 Namibia 82 495 43.3 78.1
38 Niger 2.1 299.9 170.9 92.6
39 Nigeria 30 18’587.0 261.8 93.8
40 R©union 276.1 579.2 20.3 …
41 Rwanda 39 290 49.4 85.8
42 S. Tom© & Principe - 12 - 52.3
43 Senegal 250.3 1’730.1 47.2 86.6
44 Seychelles 26 57 17 72.7
45 Sierra Leone 11.9 113.2 111.7 …
46 Somalia 80 500 44.3 83.3
47 South Africa 8’339.0 33’960.0 32.4 87.8
48 Sudan 23 1’827.9 139.9 73.2
49 Swaziland 33 200 43.4 85.1
50 Tanzania 110.5 3’389.8 98.3 95.6
51 Togo 50 436 54.2 87.4
52 Tunisia 119.2 5’680.7 116.6 81.9
53 Uganda 126.9 1’315.3 59.6 93.8
54 Zambia 98.9 946.6 57.1 90.9
55 Zimbabwe 266.4 668.1 20.2 67.1
  Africa 15’668.7 137’342.5 54.4 83.3
           
           
Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
56 Antigua & Barbuda 22 86 31.3 70.8
57 Argentina 6’488.0 22’156.4 27.8 70.1
58 Aruba 15 134.4 55 78.1
59 Bahamas 31.5 186 55.9 57.1
60 Barbados 28.5 206.2 48.6 60.5
61 Belize 16.8 119.6 48 77.7
62 Bermuda 13 49 39.3 …
63 Bolivia 582.6 2’421.4 33 78.9
64 Brazil 23’188.2 86’210.0 30 68.4
65 Canada 8’727.0 17’017.0 14.3 45
66 Chile 3’401.5 10’569.6 25.5 75.5
67 Colombia 2’256.8 21’850.0 57.5 74
68 Costa Rica 211.6 1’101.0 39.1 44.2
69 Cuba 6.5 135.5 83.4 13.7
70 Dominica 1.2 41.8 143 66.6
71 Dominican Rep. 705.4 3’623.3 38.7 80.2
72 Ecuador 482.2 6’246.3 66.9 78.8
73 El Salvador 743.6 2’411.8 26.5 71.3
74 French Guiana 39.8 98 25.2 …
75 Grenada 4.3 43.3 78.2 57
76 Guadeloupe 169.8 314.7 16.7 …
77 Guatemala 856.8 4’510.1 39.4 78.3
78 Guyana 39.8 281.4 47.8 71.9
79 Haiti 55 400 64.2 74.1
80 Honduras 155.3 1’281.5 52.5 72.2
81 Jamaica 367 2’804.4 50.2 89.8
82 Martinique 162.1 295.4 16.2 …
83 Mexico 14’077.9 47’141.0 27.3 70.7
84 Neth. Antilles 30 200 60.7 …
85 Nicaragua 90.3 1’119.4 65.4 83.5
86 Panama 410.4 1’351.9 26.9 75.4
87 Paraguay 820.8 1’887.0 18.1 85.5
88 Peru 1’273.9 5’583.4 34.4 71.3
89 Puerto Rico 926.4 2’682.0 30.4 70.7
90 St. Kitts and Nevis 1.2 10 69.9 28.6
91 St. Lucia 2.5 93 147 …
92 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2.4 70.6 97.3 75.8
93 Suriname 41 232.8 41.5 74.2
94 Trinidad & Tobago 161.9 800 37.7 71.2
95 United States 109’478.0 213’000.0 14.2 54.8
96 Uruguay 410.8 1’154.9 23 53.4
97 Venezuela 5’447.2 12’495.7 18.1 77.6
98 Virgin Islands (US) 35 64.2 16.4 47.5
  Americas 181’981.1 472’479.8 21 61.5
           
Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
99 Afghanistan - 1’200.0 - 92.3
100 Armenia 17.5 320 78.9 25.9
101 Azerbaijan 420.4 2’242.0 39.8 67.2
102 Bahrain 205.7 748.7 29.5 79.2
103 Bangladesh 279 9’000.0 100.3 89.4
104 Bhutan - 37.8 - 53.6
105 Brunei Darussalam 95 232.9 19.6 73.5
106 Cambodia 130.5 1’062.0 52.1 97
107 China 85’260.0 393’428.0 35.8 52.9
108 D.P.R. Korea - - … …
109 Georgia 194.7 1’459.2 49.6 55.2
110 Hong Kong, China 5’447.3 8’693.4 9.8 69.6
111 India 3’577.1 90’000.0 90.6 64.4
112 Indonesia 3’669.3 46’910.0 66.5 78.6
113 Iran (I.R.) 962.6 7’222.5 49.6 27.6
114 Iraq - 574 - 35.7
115 Israel 4’400.0 7’757.0 12 72.5
116 Japan 66’784.4 96’484.0 7.6 62.4
117 Jordan 388.9 1’624.1 42.9 71.8
118 Kazakhstan 197.3 4’955.2 90.5 52.5
119 Korea (Rep.) 26’816.4 38’342.3 7.4 61.8
120 Kuwait 476 2’379.8 38 82.3
121 Kyrgyzstan 9 541.7 126.9 55.2
122 Lao P.D.R. 12.7 638.2 119 89.4
123 Lebanon 743 990 5.9 50
124 Macao, China 141.1 532.8 30.4 75.3
125 Malaysia 5’121.7 19’545.0 30.7 81.7
126 Maldives 7.6 202.1 92.5 86.2
127 Mongolia 154.6 557.2 29.2 78.1
128 Myanmar 13.4 183.4 68.8 26.7
129 Nepal 10.2 227.3 85.9 31.9
130 Oman 162 1’333.2 52.4 83.4
131 Pakistan 306.5 12’771.2 110.8 70.8
132 Palestine 175.9 1’094.6 44.1 75.8
133 Philippines 6’454.4 34’779.0 40.1 91.2
134 Qatar 120.9 716.8 42.8 77.7
135 Saudi Arabia 1’375.9 13’300.0 57.4 77.8
136 Singapore 2’747.4 4’384.6 9.8 70.4
137 Sri Lanka 430.2 3’361.8 50.9 73
138 Syria 30 2’950.0 150.3 50.4
139 Taiwan, China 17’873.8 22’170.7 4.4 62
140 Tajikistan 1.2 265 196.3 16.3
141 Thailand 3’056.0 27’378.7 73 80.1
142 Turkmenistan 7.5 50.1 60.8 2.4
143 United Arab Emirates 1’428.1 4’534.5 26 78.6
144 Uzbekistan 53.1 720 68.4 15.7
145 Viet Nam 788.6 9’593.2 64.8 37.7
146 Yemen 32 2’000.0 128.7 57.3
  Asia 240’579.0 879’493.9 29.6 59.5
           
           
Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
147 Albania 29.8 1’259.6 155 82.1
148 Andorra 23.5 64.6 22.4 64.6
149 Austria 6’117.0 8’650.0 7.2 69.8
150 Belarus 49.4 4’098.0 142 55.5
151 Belgium 5’629.0 9’460.0 10.9 66.5
152 Bosnia and Herzegovina 93.4 1’594.4 76.4 62.2
153 Bulgaria 738 6’244.9 53.3 71.5
154 Croatia 1’033.0 3’649.7 28.7 66
155 Cyprus 218.3 718.8 26.9 63.1
156 Czech Republic 4’346.0 11’775.9 22.1 78.5
157 Denmark 3’363.6 5’449.2 10.1 61.9
158 Estonia 557 1’445.3 21 76.6
159 Faroe Islands 17 42 19.9 63.8
160 Finland 3’728.6 5’270.0 7.2 71.3
161 France 29’052.4 48’099.0 10.6 58.8
162 Germany 48’202.0 79’200.0 10.4 59
163 Greece 5’932.4 10’260.4 11.6 61.9
164 Greenland 16 32.2 19.1 …
165 Guernsey 21.9 43.8 19 49.3
166 Hungary 3’076.3 9’320.0 24.8 73.5
167 Iceland 214.9 304 7.2 61.1
168 Ireland 2’461.0 4’270.0 11.7 67.5
169 Italy 42’246.0 72’200.0 11.3 74.2
170 Jersey 44.7 83.9 17 …
171 Latvia 401.3 1’871.6 36.1 71.9
172 Liechtenstein 10 27.5 22.4 57.9
173 Lithuania 524 4’353.4 52.7 85.2
174 Luxembourg 303.3 720 18.9 74.6
175 Malta 114.4 324 23.1 61.6
176 Moldova 139 1’089.8 51 54
177 Monaco 13.9 17.2 4.3 33.6
178 Netherlands 10’755.0 15’834.0 8 67.6
179 Norway 3’224.0 4’754.5 8.1 69.3
180 Poland 6’747.0 29’166.4 34 71.1
181 Portugal 6’665.0 11’447.3 11.4 73
182 Romania 2’499.0 13’354.1 39.8 75.3
183 Russia 3’263.2 120’000.0 105.6 75
184 Serbia and Montenegro 1’303.6 5’229.0 32 63.8
185 Slovak Republic 1’243.7 4’540.4 29.6 79.1
186 Slovenia 1’215.6 1’759.2 7.7 68.3
187 Spain 24’265.1 41’327.9 11.2 69.3
188 Sweden 6’372.3 9’087.0 7.4 63.3
189 Switzerland 4’638.5 6’834.0 8.1 57
190 TFYR Macedonia 115.7 1’261.3 61.2 70.3
191 Turkey 16’133.4 43’609.0 22 69.7
192 Ukraine 818.5 17’214.3 83.9 53.1
193 United Kingdom 43’452.0 65’500.0 8.6 67.3
  Europe 291’428.7 682’857.6 18.6 67.8
           
           
Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
194 American Samoa 2 2.2 3.1 17.9
195 Australia 8’562.0 18’420.0 16.6 64.5
196 Fiji 55.1 205 30.1 64.6
197 French Polynesia 39.9 87 16.9 62
198 Guam 27.2 98 37.8 …
199 Kiribati 0.3 0.6 19.7 …
200 Marshall Islands 0.4 0.6 9.6 11.8
201 Micronesia - 14.1 - 53.1
202 New Caledonia 49.9 134.3 21.9 70.8
203 New Zealand 1’542.0 3’530.0 18 67.1
204 Northern Marianas 3 20.5 61.6 …
205 Papua New Guinea 8.6 75 54.4 54.1
206 Samoa 2.5 24 57.2 55.2
207 Solomon Islands 1.2 6 39.1 44.8
208 Tonga 0.2 29.9 178 68.5
209 Vanuatu 0.4 12.7 103.4 64.6
  Oceania 10’294.6 22’659.9 17.1 64.9
   
           
Mobile cellular subscribers
    Cellular mobile subscribers As % of total
        CAGR Telephone
    (k) (%) subscribers
    2000 2005 2000 – 05 2005
  WTI 739’952.1 2’194’833.7 24.3 63.5
           
Source: ITU      

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Telecom Regulators – Official websites directory

By on February 14, 2007 · Leave a Comment 

Telecoms regulators globally
Afghanistan Telecom Regularity Board Ministry of Communication Afghanistan
Albania Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ERT)
Australia Australian Communications Authority (ACA)
Argentina Secretaria de Comunicaciones
Austria TelekomControl
Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Belarus Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Belgium Belgian Institute of Postal services and Telecommunications
Bolivia Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SITTEL)
Bosnia and Herzegovina The Communication Regulatory Agency (CRA)
Botswana Botswana Telecommunications Authority
Brazil ANATEL
Brunei Jabatan Telekom
Bulgaria Communication Regulation Commission
Burkia Faso Direction g©n©rale de l’Office National des t©l©communications (ONATEL)
Canada Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission
Chad Minist¨re de Postes et T©l©communications
Chile Subsecretaria de Telecommunicacaiones (SUBTEL)
Colombia Comisi³n de Regulaci³n de Telecomunicaciones
Croatia Hrvatska Agencija za telekomunikacije
Czech Republic Czech Telecommunications Office
Denmark Telestyrelsen National Telecom Agency
Dominica ECTEL Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority
El Salvador Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecommunicaciones
Egypt Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Estonia Estonian National Communications Board
Finland Ministry of Transport and Communications
France ART (Autorit© de R©gulation des T©l©communications)
Georgia Georgian National Communications Commission
Germany Regulierungsbehoerde f?r Telekommunikation und Post
Greece EETT (National Telecommunications and Post Commission)
Grenada ECTEL Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority
Hong Kong Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA)
Hungary Ministry of Transport, Communication and Water Management
Iceland Ministry of Communications
India Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Ireland Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR)
Israel Ministry of Communications
Italy Italian Communications Authority
Japan Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Jordan Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
Kenya Communications Commission of Kenya
Korea Ministry of Communications and Informations
Latvia Latvia Telecommunication State Inspection
Lebanon Ministry Of Telecommunications
Lithuania Lithuanian Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA)
Luxembourg Institut Luxembourgeois des T©l©communications
Macau Office for the Development of Telecommunications and Information Technology
Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
Mali Soci©t© des T©l©communications du Mali
Malta Malta Communications Authority
Mauritania Office des Postes et T©l©communications
Mauritius The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Mexico Comisi³n Federal de Telecomunicaciones
Morocco National Agency for the Regulation of Telecommunications (ANRT)
Nepal Nepal Telecommunications Authority
Netherlands OPTA
New Zealand Commerce Commission of New Zealand
Nigeria Nigerian Communications Commission
Norway Norwegian Post and Telecom Authority
Oman Sultanate of Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
Pakistan Pakistan Telecommunications Authority
Papua New Guinea PANGTEL
Paraguay Conatel, telecoms regulator
Philippines National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
Poland URTiP
Portugal Autoridade Nacional de Comunica??es (ANACOM)
Romania National Regulatory Authority for Communications
Russia Ministry for Communications and Informatization of the Russian Federation
Saint Christopher and Nevis ECTEL Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority
Saint Lucia ECTEL Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ECTEL Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority
San Marino Segereteria di Stato per l’Industria, l’Artigianato, la Cooperazione economica, le Poste e le Telecomunicazione
Singapore Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Slovakia Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic
Slovenia Ministry of Transport and Communications
South Africa ICASA
Spain Comision del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT)
Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
Sweden Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS)
Switzerland Federal Office for Communications (OFCOM/BAKOM)
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
UK Office of Communications (Ofcom)
USA Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Taiwan The Directorate General of Telecommunications
Trinidad & Tobago (Republic of) Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey Telekom?nikasyon Kurumu
Zambia Communications Authority

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Kabul Ringtones

By on November 22, 2006 · Leave a Comment 

BusinessWeek has an article detailing a day in the life of Eaton Dunkelberger, who operates a ringtone business in Afghanistan. It’s behind a subscription wall so I only get up to 9am, when he’s talking to the guy who makes the ringtones…”Meeting with Naseem. This young Afghan makes our ringtones and owns the only music production studio in Kabul. Naseem’s office is on Butcher Street, the stairs to his office nestled between huge cow carcasses buzzing with flies. We sit on the floor, drink soda, and listen to the new tracks he’s recording…I offered Naseem a lucrative revenue sharing agreement in exchange for ringtone production, but as with many Afghans, a bird in the hand is worth three or four in the bush.???

Source-  moconews  Wireless  Telecom

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Protected: A phone call from Islamabad

By on November 20, 2006 · Leave a Comment 

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MTN nears 35 mln subscribers after Investcom takeover

By on November 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment 

South Africa-based operator MTN Group has reported 34.768 million subscribers at the end of September, up 37 percent from June following its takeover of rival Investcom. Excluding Investcom, MTN increased its subscriber base 8 percent over the quarter to 27.384 million, while Investcom alone posted 20 percent growth to 7.384 million customers. Growth was driven by MTN’s South Africa operations, which increased customer numbers 7 percent to 11.16 million. In West and Central Africa, Nigeria and to a lesser extent Ghana contributed to the increase. Nigeria posted a 8 percent increase to 10.375 million, and Ghana increased its base 21 percent to 2.436 million. The Middle East and North East Africa region recorded subscriber growth of 17 percent for the quarter, mainly due to continued strong growth in Syria (20% to 2.1 million) and Uganda (14% to 1.4 million). The recent start-up in Afghanistan exceeded expectations and achieved net additions of 99,000 in the quarter. MTN expects the merger with Investcom to lead in 2007 to operatinal savings of USD 80-100 million and reductions in capital expenditure of at least USD 100 million. Limited savings have already been acheived this year.Among other markets, subscribers in Cameroon were up 9 percent to 1.66 million, Uganda rose 14 percent to 1.4 million, Cote d’Ivoire increased 13 percent to 1.26 million, Yemen was up 1 percent to 1.03 million, Sudan increased 30 percent to 771,000, the Mascom unit in Botswana rose 5 percent to 557,000, Benin was up 20 percent to 415,000, Rwanda rose 10 percent to 341,000, Swaziland was up 8 percent to 255,000, Congo- Brazaville gained 9 percent to 250,000, Guinea Conakry grew 75 percent to 201,000, Liberia was up 21 percent to 186,000, Zambia increased 5 percent to 125,000, Guinea Bissau rose 4 percent to 79,000 and the only European country, Levantine Cyprus, was down 10 percent to 70,000. In addition to providing subscriber figures, MTN gives ARPU figres for each subsidiary. South African ARPU rose to ZAR 162 in the third quarter from ZAR 159 in the second. Elsewhere, third quarter ARPU ranges from USD 11 in Yemen to USD 32 in Cyprus, with the next highest being Syria at USD 25. In Nigeria, ARPU was USD 18. The ARPU figure is an average for the time since the July acquisition of Investcom.

Source- telecompaper    

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Ringtone reality check: India cellphone story long way to go

By on September 19, 2006 · Leave a Comment 

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18: India hopes to be a telecom major by 2020 but trends indicate it is still on the dark side of the wireless divide: rural teledensity is still at 2 per cent, roughly where it was at the time of Independence, as against 40 per cent teledensity in the urban areas.

Fresh data for 2005-06 filed by telecom regulators the world over shows that mobile phones are a much bigger story elsewhere in the world, even in the neighbourhood.

Mobile phones have now reached 8 per cent of India’s 1 billion-strong population but in March 2006 Pakistan achieved a mobile teledensity of 14 per cent, clocking an impressive 170 per cent growth rate the previous year. India’s mobile teledensity is growing at 60-65 per cent a year.

Strife-torn Sri Lanka has al so done well: it crossed the 17 per cent mobile teledensity mark in early 2006 and its mobile phones are growing at 50 per cent every year. Bangladesh too has gone places: It registered a 138 per cent mobile phone growth rate in 2005 which no one expects to falter.

Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, says “I think changes in rural India’s teledensity will show up in the next six or eight months – the moment we announce that the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund will be given out for cellular telephony. In addition, new technologies like WiFi and WiMax will go into rural areas sooner than the land lines or mobile phone networks, and will make a serious impact for the better.”

India’s neighbours, including or excluding China, are not just distributing phones faster. They are also competing harder for investments that global telecom firms are now ready to make. In addition, mobile teledensity improves GDP, which could make India’s telecom rivals far more successful in other ways too. Analysts are beginning to caution that the only reason why India’s teledensity looks so good is because of its sheer size.

“We are not doing as well as our neighbours in expanding connectivity, be it Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Pakistan. Though we are adding many phones in urban areas, rural teledensity is still at 2 per cent, roughly where it was when we became independent. We just keep on giving new mobile phones to those in big cities who already have land lines,” says telecom analyst Mahesh Uppal. Despite the wide contrasts in per capita income and GDP, sometimes its hard to tell who’s catching up on whom between India and its neighbours.

Even Afghanistan, where the mobile networks were built afresh in 2002 after years of wars, mobile teledensity has touched 4 per cent. This is just below the global low-income average, but Afghanistan is starting from a near-zero mobility base.

India may be a minnow before telecom heavyweights China, Taiwan, US but some of its biggest rivals are right next door. India and other Asian countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand launched their mobile networks in roughly the same decades but India lags behind the rest. Mongolia achieved 20 per cent mobile teledensity in 2006, though it started in 2000 with only two per cent – that’s a 100 per cent growth rate. Malaysia had 80 per cent mobile penetration in early 2006 and its people sent nine million SMS’ in 2005 which makes them the second best performers on this front, only after Singapore.

There is a reason why India has become a big telecom success story but not the biggest. For one, the rural teledensity target in India has been pending since 1995 (at 10 per cent) although urban mobile teledensity has skyrocketed to 40 per cent. Besides, Indian companies are waiting in the wings for their big chance: A government subsidy for going rural.

Changes in rural India’s teledensity is key because as we speak, Hong Kong is achieving 125 per cent mobile teledensity, South Korea 90 per cent, Australia 95 per cent and Japan 76 per cent. Weren’t these countries our real competition when we started out in 1991, not Bhutan or Nepal (both with 2 per cent)?

Source- http://www.indianexpress.com

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ADB pours loan to expand Afghanistan’s mobile network

By on August 15, 2006 · Leave a Comment 

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tuesday lent 35 million U.S. dollars to Roshan, a leading Afghan mobile phone operator, to finance its network expansion, as that more Afghans can use cellphones.

An agreement was signed between the two sides during a ceremony held here, at which three other multilateral institutions and commercial banks also announced a total loan of 30 million U.S. dollars to Roshan.

The loan will significantly enhance the network coverage for Afghanistan, officials and businessmen at the ceremony said.

ADB, based in Manila, the Philippine capital, defines its mission as to help Asian and the Pacific countries reduce poverty, and improve their citizens’ life.

Roshan, established in Jan. 2003, has 850 thousand subscribers in this country with a population of about 24 million.

The company, which is currently present in over 150 major cities and towns throughout Afghanistan, will be expanding the service to another 70 or more towns and cities after receiving the loan.

At present, there are three cellphone operators in Afghanistan, providing services to around 1.5 million customers.

Mobile phone services have improved greatly in this war-weary country in the past five years after the Taliban regime’s collapse in late 2001.

During the extremist regime, few people could use cellphones and citizens only had access to very old-fashioned telephones.

At the ceremony, Afghan Communications Minister Amirzai Sangin said, “The financing secured by Roshan .. has had a direct, and positive impact on Afghanistan as a whole, including increasing employment and improving business efficiencies.”

Source- http://english.people.com.cn

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