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Research and Markets: 2004 Telecommunications in the Baltics - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

By July 2003 there were more than 760,000 Internet bank customers in Estonia, over 50% of the population.

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2004-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of 2004 Telecommunications in the Baltics - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to their offering.
This report covers the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Each country has its own chapter and covers the following subjects.Key Statistics Market Overview Regulatory Environment Major Players Infrastructure Fixed network Services Public Data Internet Broadband E-services Wireless Communications Broadcasting

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are expected to join the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004.

Latvia and Lithuania have the lowest GDP per capita of the ten countries expected to join the EU in 2004 and Estonia has the fourth lowest. All three have aligned their telecommunications regulation with that of the EU in order to comply with accession requirements. Estonia was the only EU applicant country to have fully unbundled the local loop as at January 2003.

Operators from nearby Scandinavia have invested heavily in the region. TeliaSonera dominates the market with major shares in all three fixed-line incumbents, the mobile market leaders in all three countries and the second largest cable TV operator in Latvia.

Tele2 owns mobile operators in all three countries, offers fixed-line services in Estonia and intends to also offer them in the other markets, and also owns large cable TV operators in Estonia and Lithuania.

Estonian fixed-line incumbent Eesti Telekom has established a separate subsidiary responsible for network building and maintenance and sold a 49% share to a buyer who will have a right to acquire 100% after 2 years.

Fixed-line teledensity is low and falling in all three countries. It is falling particularly rapidly in Lithuania, from a peak of over 32% in 2000 to under 26% at end-2002.

Estonia, the wealthiest of the three countries, is far in front in all measures of telecommunications development and has particularly high Internet use levels, similar to the EU average; as well as, high broadband usage and e-banking take-up.

Broadband services are available in all three countries. Estonia had the 16th highest Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) penetration in the world at end-June 2003 but growth rates are slowing.

In keeping with its advanced Internet penetration, Estonia has also been quick to introduce Wi-Fi networks. By May 2003, Estonia had 107 Wi-Fi areas, of which 62 were in Tallinn. According to wifi.ee, 6.8% of all wireless Internet areas in Europe were located in Estonia.

By July 2003 there were more than 760,000 Internet bank customers in Estonia, over 50% of the population.

Latvia has only two mobile operators. Repeated attempts to auction a third GSM licence have failed, the most recent in October 2002.

Both Estonia and Latvia have awarded 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) licences to incumbent mobile operators in the past year but Lithuania has still to do so.

Cable TV services are widely available and operators are also offering Internet access but Estonia has only 25% cable TV availability according to EU statistics.

Latvia plans to make a full transition to digital TV broadcasts by 2006 with 95% of the country covered by 2005. Analysts have reported that financial constraints, and the lack of adequate legislation, would probably prevent it from doing so.

Report Contents:

1. THE BALTICS MARKET OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS 2003

1.1 Key developments in the Baltic telecom market

1.2 Market overview

1.2.1 Regulatory environment

1.2.2 Major fixed network operators

1.2.3 Telecommunications infrastructure

1.2.4 Internet market

1.2.5 Broadband networks and services

1.2.6 Content and e-services

1.2.7 Wireless communications

1.2.8 Broadcasting

2. ESTONIA

3. LATVIA

4. LITHUANIA

5. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c2813

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