2013-02-21 09:08:30 - Recently published research from Business Monitor International, "Cambodia & Laos Telecommunications Report Q1 2013", is now available at Fast Market Research

BMI View: The Cambodian and Laotian telecoms markets are similar in several ways. Both countries have a relatively well-developed mobile sector, although prepaid subscriptions are the norm, resulting in low ARPU levels. Their fixed-line industries are still expected to experience growth at least until 2016 but mobile substitution is becoming an increasing threat, especially when operators step up their rural expansion plans. The mobile-over-fixed scenario is also likely to play out in the broadband segment, considering the lower cost associated with mobile broadband products and services.

Key Data

* Forecast scenarios for Cambodia and Laos have been extended to 2017. In light of a lack of new data, most of our expectations before 2017 have remained unchanged.
* We continue to

expect prepaid subscriptions to drive mobile penetration rates in Cambodia and Laos to 185% and 166% respectively in 2013, although further SIM registrations pose a downside risk to our forecasts.
* We envisage demand for fixed broadband services remaining low in spite of high ownership cost and poor network coverage. We forecast Cambodia and Laos to each have a penetration rate of less than 5% by end-2017


Full Report Details at
- www.fastmr.com/prod/536492_cambodia_laos_telecommunications_repo ..


Key Trends & Developments

Malaysia's Axiata announced in mid-December 2012 that it will acquire Latelz's Smart Mobile for US $155mn. Axiata will merge Smart Mobile with its own Cambodian mobile operator, hello.

In early November 2012, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court granted an injunction against Thaicom-owned Mfone for failure to pay US$3.7mn in debt to Eltek Valere. About a week later, Thaicom announced that it had passed a resolution approving the complete sale of Mfone to INT Management Service for US $100. Although the deal is only valued at US$100, Mfone is debt laden. As of end-September 2012, Mfone had a negative equity of US$38.15mn. In late November 2012, Eltek Valere submitted another injunction request to prevent Mfone from transferring its assets.

Russia's VimpelCom was reported to be planning to sell some of its underperforming operations in Africa and Asia as part of an initiative to reduce its debt pile and allow it to focus on its more profitable businesses. The operator has received considerable interest from its rivals in Cambodia and Laos.

Laos introduced LTE services for the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting in early November 2012. Services are expected to be made available to the population in the near future.

Cambodia (Telecoms Rating score of 41.9) and Laos (40.6) were ranked 17th and 18th respectively in BMI's Asia Pacific Telecoms Risk/Reward Ratings.

Report Table of Contents:

BMI Industry View
SWOT Analysis
- Mobile
- Wireline
Industry Forecast
- Cambodia
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Historical Data And Forecasts
- Laos
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Historical Data And Forecasts
Industry Business Environment Overview
- Industry Risk/Reward Ratings
- Table: Asia Pacific Telecoms Risk/Reward Ratings Q113
- Cambodia And Laos
- Cambodia
- Laos
Market Overview
- Cambodia
- Regional Perspective
- Table: Cambodia Mobile Market Regional Comparison, 2011
- Key Developments
- Mobile Market Growth
- Mobile Market Shares
- Table: Cambodia Mobile Market By Operator ('000)
- Cambodia Mobile ARPU
- Table: Sotelco Mobile ARPU (US$), 2009-2012
- Mobile Content
- Table: VAS Services
- Fixed-Line Market Growth
- Broadband
- Laos
- Regional Perspective
- Table: Laos Mobile Market Regional Comparison, 2011
- Key Developments
- Mobile Market Growth
- Table: Mobile Market Growth ('000)
- Mobile Market Shares
- Table: Lao Telecommunications Subscriber Mix
- Mobile Content
- Fixed-Line
- Broadband
- Table: Laos Internet Market By Service
- Mobile Regional Content
- Table: Selected NFC Developments, 2011
Industry Trends And Developments
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Key Market Developments
- Table: Telecoms Market Developments
Regulatory Development
- Cambodia
- Laos
Competitive Landscape
- Table: Key Players - Cambodia Telecoms Sector
- Table: Key Players - Laos Telecoms Sector
Company Profiles
- Telecom Cambodia
- Mobitel
- Lao Telecommunications
Regional Overview
- Nokia Siemens Networks
- Financial Performance
- Table: Vendor Revenues (US$mn)
- Restructuring Efforts
- Geographical Breakdown
- Table: Net Sales By Geography (EURmn)
- Asia Pacific Is The Place To Be
- Table: NSN Selected Asia Activities
Demographic Forecast
- Demographic Forecast - Cambodia
- Table: Cambodia's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 ('000)
- Table: Cambodia's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 (% of total)
- Table: Cambodia's Key Population Ratios, 1990-2020
- Table: Cambodia's Rural And Urban Population, 1990-2020
- Demographic Forecast - Laos
- Table: Laos' Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 ('000)
- Table: Laos' Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 (% of total)
- Table: Laos' Key Population Ratios, 1990-2020
- Table: Laos' Rural And Urban Population, 1990-2020
Glossary
- Table: Glossary Of Terms
Methodology
- Table: Key Indicators For Telecommunications Industry Forecasts
- Telecoms Business Environment Ratings
- Table: Ratings Indicators
- Table: Weighting Of Indicators

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