0 items USD 0.00European Telecom Market: Industry Status and Leading Players (Part 1)
Table of Contents
- 1. Albania is gearing for 5G services
- 2. Austria is planning to auction additional 5G spectrum by mid-2020
- 3. In Belarus, LTE use reaches 80% of mobile subscribers
- 4. Spectrum auction in Belgium for 5G delayed to 2020
- 5. Bosnia-Herzegovina to end International roaming among Balkan countries by July 2021
- 6. Bulgaria Government extends investment program for broadband in rural areas
- 7. Tele2 Croatia sold to United Group
This article is the first part of our 6 part series. In this section, we will discuss the market situation and the top players of the industry in the telecommunications sector of Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Croatia.
1 . 1. Albania is gearing for 5G services
The recent developments in the telecom sector in Albania include the sale of Telekom Albania to Bulgaria’s Vivacom, a deal which has increased the latter’s presence in the Balkan region. In February 2019 Vodafone Albania secured a block of spectrum in the 800MHz band, which it will use to improve its mobile broadband capabilities. The country has long sought accession to the European Union (EU) which has benefited its telecoms sector through closer scrutiny of its regulatory regime and through the injection of funding to help modernize infrastructure.
The Albania telecom industry report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators of Albania as they react to the COVID crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services.
Leading Telecom Companies in Albania
- Vodafone Albania
- Albtelecom (Eagle Mobile)
- Telekom Albania (AMC)
- Cosmote
- Turk Telecom
2 . 2. Austria is planning to auction additional 5G spectrum by mid-2020
Austria’s telecom market is dominated by the incumbent Telekom Austria and by Magenta Telekom, which was formed from the merger of T-Mobile Austria and the cableco UPC Austria in early 2019. Magenta Telekom has since been better placed to compete across all sectors. In common with operators elsewhere in Europe, those in Austria are focussed on the provision of bundled services as a measure to attract and retain customers.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in the Austria telecom industry report.
Leading Telecom Companies in Austria
- Telekom Austria (A1)
- Magenta Telekom
- 3 Austria
3 . 3. In Belarus, LTE use reaches 80% of mobile subscribers
Recent spectrum auctions have facilitated the development of mobile broadband access, particularly in rural areas, while the state-sponsored operator beCloud, charged with developing a wholesale-based LTE network, has enabled commercial LTE services to be extended to about 80% of the population. beCloud is also charged with developing the network infrastructure to support 5G services.
Belarus Telecom Industry Report also covers the Ministry of Communications data to March 2019, operator data to Q1 2019, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
Leading Telecom Companies in Belarus
- Beltelecom
- A1 Belarus
- MTS Belarus
- BeST life
4 . 4. Spectrum auction in Belgium for 5G delayed to 2020
Belgium's mobile networks have been upgraded to support growing mobile data use among subscribers, with near-comprehensive LTE coverage. Operators have also trialed 5G in preparation for launching services in 2020 and 2021. However, the auction of the 5G-suitable spectrum has been delayed to 2020, while the onerous restrictions on radiation have meant that some 5G trials have been suspended.
The Belgium Telecom Market Report provides data and analysis on key aspects of the Belgian telecom market. It assesses the latest statistics on fixed-network services and also reviews key regulatory issues, noting the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection.
Leading Telecom Companies in Belgium
- Proximus
- Orange Belgium
- BASE
5 . 5. Bosnia-Herzegovina to end International roaming among Balkan countries by July 2021
The telecom market of Bosnia-Herzegovina has been liberalised and a regulatory framework created based on the EU’s regulatory framework for communications. Although Bosnia-Herzegovina remains an EU candidate country, in July 2017 it applied amended mobile roaming charges to fit in with changes introduced across the Union. Further roaming agreements were made in 2019 with other western Balkan countries.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Telecom Report includes the regulator's market data to December 2018, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2019, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
Leading Telecom Companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- BH Telecom
- Telekom Srpske
- HT Mostar
6 . 6. Bulgaria Government extends investment program for broadband in rural areas
The broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys excellent cross-platform competition. The share of the market held by DSL has fallen steadily as a result of customers being migrated to fibre networks, particularly those operated by the incumbent telco Vivacom. By early 2019 about 65% of Vivacom’s fixed-line broadband subscribers were on fibre infrastructure.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Bulgaria’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors.
Leading Telecom Companies in Bulgaria
- Vivacom
- A1 Bulgaria
- Telenor Bulgaria
- Orbitel
- PPF Group
7 . 7. Tele2 Croatia sold to United Group
The market has attracted international players including Telekom Austria and Tele2 Group, though the latter in mid-2019 sold its local unit Tele2 Croatia to United Group, a company with existing telecom and pay TV interests in the region. As a result, further investment and an expansion of Tele2 Croatia’s offerings are expected into 2020.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Croatia’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors.
Leading Telecom Companies in Croatia
- Hrvatski Telekom (HT)
- Optima Telekom
- A1 Croatia (VIPnet)
- Tele2 Croatia
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