PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1016586
PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1016586
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Bosnia-Herzegovina's MNOs delay 5G launch
The economic prosperity of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) largely rests with the country's continuing integration with the EU. GDP growth was inconsistent for several years before 2015, since when the economy had grown at above 3% annually. The measures taken to address the spread of Covid-19 in 2020, which affected trade and tourism, led to GDP growth being negative 5.5% in 2020, though the IMF anticipated that growth of 3.5% was possible for 2021. This is predicated on the virus being controlled, and a return to normal economic activity. There nevertheless remain some significant challenges, not least of which is high unemployment which continues to hinder the country's economic growth potential.
The telecom market 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
The market is characterised by three zones, each with an incumbent telco. The largest operator BH Telecom is the dominant provider, while Telekom Srpske operates in Republika Srpska and HT Mostar is active in Herzegovina. Together, these three incumbent operators control 99% of the market. All three are subject to specific obligations designed to improve competition.
The fixed-line broadband network is comparatively underdeveloped, with the result that investments made in mobile upgrades by BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske are facilitating broadband connectivity in the country to a greater extent than is common elsewhere in Europe.
Internet services are available through the incumbents and a number of alternative operators. DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity, while fibre broadband as yet has only a small market presence.
The three MNOs, each affiliated with one of the incumbent fixed-line operators, provide national coverage with 3G, though LTE coverage is only about 89%. Their upgraded networks are helping to support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient. In addition, mobile data and mobile broadband offers will provide future revenue growth given the limited potential of mobile voice services. Although the MNOs tested LTE services under trial licenses from 2013, commercial launches were delayed until the award of spectrum in early 2019. The regulator stipulated that licensees must provide national coverage within five years. Trials of 5G technology have been undertaken, though there are no plans to launch services commercially in the short term, given that the MNOs can continue to exploit the capacity of their existing LTE networks.
BuddeComm notes that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the telecoms market. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, has offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect has been a reduced (and sometimes negative) subscriber growth, which will continue into 2021.
Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
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 this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key developments:
- BH Telecom trials 5G though commercial launch awaits market maturity;
- Telekom Srpske completes acquisition of Elta-Kabel;
- Regulator signs cross-border spectrum coordination agreements with Serbia, Montenegro, and Northern Macedonia;
- International roaming among Balkan countries to end by July 2021;
- Regulator renews mobile licenses for the MNOs;
- Report update included the regulator's market data to December 2019, telcos' operating and financial data to Q2 2020, Telecom maturity Index charts and analyse, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
Companies mentioned in this report:
BH Telecom, HT Mostar, Telekom Sprske, LogoSoft.
Table of Contents
Key statistics
Regional European Market Comparison
- Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI versus GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
Country overview
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment
- Historical overview
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
- Interconnection
- Access
- Number Portability (NP)
- Carrier Selection/Carrier Preselection
- Privatisation
- Mobile network developments
- National licences
- Roaming
- 3G mobile licenses
- Spectrum auctions
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile data services
- SMS/MMS
- Mobile broadband
- Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- Major mobile operators
- BH Mobile
- Mobilna Srpske (m:tel)
- HT Mobile (Eronet)
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- Mobile content and applications
Fixed-line broadband market
- Market analysis
- Broadband statistics
- Fixed-line broadband technologies
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Other fixed broadband services
Fixed network operators
- Introduction
- BH Telecom
- HT Mostar
- Telekom Srpske
Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
Appendix - Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports
List of Tables
- Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Bosnia-Herzegovina - 2021 (e)
- Table 2 - Telecoms revenue by sector (BAM million) -2011 - 2019
- Table 3 - Proportion of telecoms revenue by sector - 2011 - 2019
- Table 4 - Accumulated fixed number portings - 2011 - 2019
- Table 5 - Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers - 2011 - 2019
- Table 6 - License fees paid by operators - 2014 - 2018
- Table 7 - Annual mobile number portings - 2013 - 2019
- Table 8 - Change in the number of prepaid and contract cards (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Table 9 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Table 10 - Mobile subscriber market share by operator -2009 - 2019
- Table 11 - Total SMS and MMS messages sent (million) - 2009 - 2019
- Table 12 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Table 13 - BH Mobile base stations and population coverage - 2014 - 2019
- Table 14 - Change in the number of BH Mobile's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2012 - 2019
- Table 15 - M:tel base stations and population coverage - 2014 - 2019
- Table 16 - Change in the number of m:tel's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Table 17 - MH Mobile base stations and population coverage - 2014 - 2019
- Table 18 - Change in the number of HT Mobile's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2012 - 2019
- Table 19 - MVNO subscribers by operator - 2013 - 2019
- Table 20 - Licensed ISPs in Bosnia - 2011 - 2019
- Table 21 - Dial-up internet subscribers - 2011 - 2019
- Table 22 - Internet users and penetration - 2011 - 2019
- Table 23 - Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
- Table 24 - Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Table 25 - Broadband share of subscribers by platform - 2011 - 2019
- Table 26 - Fixed-line broadband connections by data rate - 2017 - 2019
- Table 27 - Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate - 2011 - 2019
- Table 28 - Telekom Srpske broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2019
- Table 29 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2019
- Table 30 - Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator - 2011 - 2019
- Table 31 - Change in the number of fixed-lines by operator (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Table 32 - Development of Telekom Srpske's financial data (BAM million) - 2010 - 2020
- Table 33 - Telekom Srpske domestic revenue by service (BAM million) - 2010 - 2020
- Table 34 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
- Table 35 - Change in fixed-line traffic by type (incumbent telcos, million minutes) - 2014 - 2019
- Table 36 - International internet bandwidth - 2007 - 2017
- Table 37 - Historic - Telecoms revenue by sector (BAM million) - 2005 - 2010
- Table 38 - Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2005 - 2010
- Table 39 - Historic - Broadband subscribers by platform (thousand) - 2007 - 2010
- Table 40 - Historic - Broadband share of subscribers by platform - 2009 - 2010
- Table 41 - Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers - 2007 - 2010
- Table 42 - Historic - Prepaid and contract cards in service (thousand) - 2005 - 2010
- Table 43 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2009 - 2010
- Table 44 - Historic - Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers - 2008 - 2010
- Table 45 - Historic - M:tel mobile subscribers - 2008 - 2010
- Table 46 - Historic - Fixed-line voice lines by operator - 2005 - 2010
- Table 47 - Historic - - Mobile subscribers and penetration - 2009 - 2010
- Table 48 - Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2009 - 2010
List of Charts
- Chart 1 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders (top tier)
- Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers (middle tier)
- Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents (bottom tier)
- Chart 4 - Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
- Chart 5 - Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 6 - Scandinavia and Baltics - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 7 - Northern Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 8 - Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 9 - Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 10 - Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 11 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 12 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 13 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 14 - Telecoms revenue by sector-2011 - 2019
- Chart 15 - Proportion of telecoms revenue by sector - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 16 - Direct access, CS and CPS subscribers - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 17 - Annual mobile number portings - 2013 - 2019
- Chart 18 - Change in the number of prepaid and contract cards (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 19 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 20 - Mobile subscriber market share by operator -2009 - 2019
- Chart 21 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 22 - Change in the number of BH Mobile's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2012 - 2019
- Chart 23 - Change in the number of m:tel's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 24 - Change in the number of HT Mobile's mobile subscribers (thousand) - 2012 - 2019
- Chart 25 - Internet users and penetration - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 26 - Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 27 - Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 28 - Broadband share of subscribers by platform - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 29 - Fixed-line broadband connections by data rate - 2017 - 2019
- Chart 30 - Market share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by data rate - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 31 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2019
- Chart 32 - Fixed-telephony subscriber market share by operator - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 33 - Change in the number of fixed-lines by operator (thousand) - 2011 - 2019
- Chart 34 - Development of Telekom Srpske's financial data (BAM million) - 2010 - 2020
- Chart 35 - Telekom Srpske domestic revenue by service - 2010 - 2020
- Chart 36 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
- Chart 37 - Change in fixed-line traffic by type (incumbent telcos, million minutes) - 2014 - 2019
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit 1 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
- Exhibit 2 - Access, the local loop and unbundling - an overview
