Liberia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Additional Information

Executive summary

Six years into peace, following more than a decade of civil war which destroyed much of its infrastructure, Liberia became a prime example of an almost entirely wireless telecommunications market. Four GSM mobile operators are competing for customers - LoneStar (majority owned by South Africa’s MTN), Comium, Cellcom and LiberCell.

Internet services are available from a number of wireless ISPs and the mobile networks using GPRS, EDGE and WiMAX technology. The high cost and limited bandwidth of existing satellite connections means that most service offerings today are expensive and below broadband speed. Improvements can be expected from the arrival of international fibre optic submarine cables to the country’s shores for the first time in 2010/11.

In the mobile sector, competition has led to some of the lowest call prices in Africa despite the expensive operating environment due to the lack of basic infrastructure in the country. However, the harmonisation of the disorderly licensing and spectrum allocation regime inherited from previous governments is proving difficult. Market penetration is still below the African average but growing faster than in most other countries in the region.

An attempt at privatising the dysfunctional fixed network operator, the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC, now Libtelco) failed in 2005. Since then, efforts to resuscitate the previously neglected incumbent have continued successfully with a wireless 3G system based on CDMA EV-DO technology enabling it to enter the mobile market as a fifth player and to provide wireless broadband services. There are also plans for a national fibre backbone network. These assets would create an attractive opportunity to a strategic investor in a likely renewed privatisation in the near future.

Key highlights:

2010 estimates for mobile and Internet market;
Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
Libtelco EV-DO launch, national fibre plans;
Privatisation of Libtelco expected;
Additional operating licences expected;
Cellcom IPO;
International fibre optic submarine cables to arrive in 2010/11;
Broadband pricing trends 2009;
Update on mobile licence and spectrum reform conflict.WAT wireless Internet pricing - 2010
Speed (Kb/s)unlimited 3 months6 months1 year
US$
64240480960
1284809601920
25696019203840
(Source: BuddeComm based on www.watelecom.com)
Note: 7% GST not included.
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Liberia’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:

Key statistics;
Market and industry overviews;
Regulatory environment and structural reform;
Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
Infrastructure development;
Mobile voice and data markets;
Average Revenue per User (ARPU);
Internet and broadband development and pricing;
Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecommunications sector in Liberia, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:

A telecommunications market almost entirely based on wireless technologies;
One of the fastest growing mobile markets in the region;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
The impact of the global economic crisis;
Telecoms operators - privatisation, acquisitions, IPOs, new licences;
Internet and broadband development and growth;
Broadband and mobile data services and pricing trends;
Mobile Average Revenue per User (ARPU).