Iran - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts

HSPA launch adds to Iran’s burgeoning broadband market

Iran’s telecoms market is one of the largest in the Middle East given the size of its population. The fixed line market is the largest in the Middle East by subscriber lines yet is dominated by the incumbent operator, Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI).

Competition is more evident in the fixed broadband market, where competing ISPs offer ADSL2+, WiMAX and other fixed wireless broadband services. Demand has pushed fixed broadband subscriber growth rates to exponential levels. Strong continued growth is likely given current household broadband penetration compared with household PC penetration as well as the high ratio of Internet users compared with subscribers. In addition the governments fifth economic development plan calls for the establishment of a fibre-based national broadband network by 2016.

Recognising the potential of applying ICT to improve both social and economic development, Iran has taken steps to develop a digital economy. Given the current state of Internet usage, a significant amount of effort has been invested in improving accessibility to ICT services with a focus on rural areas.

Competition has vastly improved Iran’s mobile market, which was previously characterised by the huge level of unmet demand. The recent launch of services by a third national operator will reinvigorate the mobile market by improving competition in what is essentially a duopoly and through the introduction of 3G/HSPA services.

With mobile penetration reaching levels indicative of saturation, mobile data and mobile broadband in particular, presents the next significant revenue growth opportunity for the mobile operators. This will be underpinned by the recent launch of HSPA services by the third national operator, with the two established national operators expected to eventually follow suit.

Key telecom parameters – 2010; 2012
Sector | 2010 | 2012

Subscribers to telecoms services (million):

Broadband | 1.0 | 3.0
Fixed-line telephony | 25.8 | 29.2
Mobile phone | 73.1 | 75.5
(Source: BuddeComm)

Companies covered in this report include:

Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI), Pishgaman Kavir Yazd Group, ParsOnline, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Mobile Communications Iran (MCI), MTN Irancell, Tamin Telecom (Rightel), Rafsanjan Industrial Complex (Taliya), Mobile Telecommunications Company of Isfahan (MTCE), Telecommunication Kish Company (TKC).

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Iran’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors.

Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure;
Major players, revenues, subscribers, ARPU;
Internet;
Mobile voice and data markets;
Broadband (FttH, wireless);
Convergence and digital media;
Broadband subscriber forecasts to 2020;