Bulgaria - Key Statistics, Telecom Market and Regulatory Overviews

Bulgaria - Key Statistics, Telecom Market and Regulatory Overviews

Bulgaria's telecoms market in recent years has been affected by the poor macroeconomic climate as well as consumer trends which have led to the continuing decline in fixed-line voice services and placed stress on messaging services. These consumer patterns are likely to continue into 2015, leading to lower revenue for operators, though there are considerable opportunities for them to develop popular bundled packages. The adoption of EU regulatory measures has created a stable regulatory environment, attracting much foreign investment in the sector. The incumbent Vivacom has been privatised, and the government no longer holds the golden share' which had enabled it to veto certain key decisions. The liberalised market has attracted new market entrants although Vivacom remains the dominant player. This report provides an overview of Bulgaria's growing fixed-line telecom market, and includes information on regulatory developments, major operators and fixed-line networks, as well as a variety of statistics and data.

Key developments:

Vivacom reports marginal drop in revenue into 2014, acquired by investment firm; regulator signs MoU with Montenegrin telecom regulator for cooperate on reducing cost of telecom services; MobilTel covers one million households with fixed network; steady growth in new entrant fixed-lines; amended Electronic Communications Act focused on enhancing regulator's powers; further draft amendments to provide regulator with additional powers; Vestitel begins building second Greece-Bulgaria fibre link; regulator's market data updates for 2013; telcos' operating and financial data to Q3 2014; recent market developments.

Companies covered in this report include:

Vivacom, Orbitel, Vestitel, MobilTel.