2012-11-03 17:05:19 - Recently published research from Business Monitor International, "Ireland Telecommunications Report Q4 2012", is now available at Fast Market Research

BMI View: The Irish mobile market contracted slightly in Q112 and preliminary data suggest a more pronounced contraction will be seen in Q212. With mobile broadband subscriptions also down q-o-q and the expansion of the value-added services market also having slowed, we are holding to our sceptical view regarding the long-term opportunities in the market. There are encouraging signs that operators are working to deal with these problems, not least of which is the decision of Vodafone and 3 to merge key parts of their networks in order to generate cost savings and push mobile broadband into underserved areas of the country. We are also encouraged by the regulator's decision to begin the process of licensing 4G services. Additional spectrum

would improve the operators' performance, though increased investments will continue to weigh on their financial performance.


Full Report Details at
- www.fastmr.com/prod/479475_ireland_telecommunications_report_q4_ ..


Key Data

* The number of mobile subscribers contracted by 0.6% in Q112 and market leaders Vodafone and O2 indicate that a sharper rate of decline will be seen in Q212. We remain bullish about the prospects of a return to positive growth in H112, however, and hold to our existing forecasts.
* The broadband market also remains in a state of flux. While eircom's financial problems mitigate against an improvement in xDSL take-up and mobile fatigue appears to be affecting the mobile broadband market, cable broadband appears to be in rude health and is driving the market. This is good news for market leader UPC, but its success has finally convinced satellite TV operator Sky to join the triple-play fray; it will launch broadband and telephony services before the end of 2012.

Key Trends & Developments

Incumbent eircom exited examinership in June 2012 with EUR1.7bn of debt wiped off its balance sheet, a new board of directors and a five-year business plan focused on growth and revenue generation. Details of that strategy remain unknown, however, and the company's commitment to an ambitious EUR100mn plan to build a fibre-based next generation broadband network while its core voice, xDSL and mobile broadband offerings are declining means that cash-burn rates are likely to be high and that, before the five-year deadline is reached, eircom will again be suffering considerable financial problems.

Nevertheless, Ireland received a modest increase to its Industry Rewards score in this quarter's update of BMI's Risk/Reward Ratings for the Western European telecommunications market, mostly due to an easing in the shrinkage of mobile ARPUs. Ireland remains in 14th place (out of 16) and we do not see much scope for improvement while the telecoms market and the economy remain pressured.

Report Table of Contents:

SWOT Analysis
- Ireland Mobile Market SWOT
- Ireland Fixed Line & Internet Market SWOT
- Ireland Political SWOT
- Ireland Economic SWOT
Risk/Reward Ratings
- Western Europe Risk/Reward Ratings
- Table: Western Europe Risk/Reward Ratings, Q412
- Ireland
Industry Forecast Scenario
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Mobile - Historical Data & Forecasts, 2009-2016
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Monthly Blended Mobile ARPU (EUR) - Historical Data And Forecasts, 2009-2016
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Fixed Line - Historical Data & Forecasts, 2009-2016
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Internet - Historical Data & Forecasts, 2009-2016
Market Overview
- Table: Ireland Mobile Market Regional Comparisons, 2011
- Table: Subscriber Net Additions, Q111-Q112 ('000)
- Table: Ireland Mobile Market Overview
- Table: Hutchison 3G Ireland
- Table: O2 Ireland
- Table: Meteor
- Table: Vodafone Ireland
Industry Trends & Developments
- Regulatory Bodies And Their Responsibilities
- Regulatory Developments
Competitive Landscape
- Key Players
- Table: Key Players: Ireland Telecoms Sector
Company Profiles
Regional Overview
Demographic Forecast
- Table: Ireland's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 ('000)
- Table: Ireland's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 (% of total)
- Table: Ireland's Key Population Ratios, 1990-2020
- Table: Ireland's Rural And Urban Population, 1990-2020
Glossary Of Terms
- Glossary Of Terms
BMI Methodology
- How We Generate Our Industry Forecasts
- Table: Key Indicators For Telecommunications Industry Forecasts
- Telecoms Risk Reward Ratings
- Risk/Reward Ratings Methodology
- Ratings System
- Indicators
- Table: Ratings Indicators
- Weighting
- Table: Weighting Of Indicators
- Sources

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