WORLDWIDE MARKET RESEARCH REPORT - CISE

EC/IST FP6 Project No 026920
Work Package: 6
Type of document: Report
Date: 20.12.2007
File name: OP_WP6_D37_V1.0.doc Version: 1.0
Title: Worldwide Market Research Report 141 / 356
have been launched in conjunction with broadband TV offerings, stimulating broadband
market growth. Speedier ADSL2+, required for a quality broadband TV experience, was
launched by the incumbents in Estonia and Latvia, with Lithuania’s incumbent deploying
ADSL2+ infrastructure. The need for broadband speed has also spurred Fibre-to-the-Home
(FTTH) network deployment in all three countries, most predominantly in new housing
projects and apartments. Wireless broadband has become increasingly prominent.
Estonia has deployed WiMAX networks to extend broadband connectivity to rural areas
while CDMA 1x EVDO based offerings are widely available in Latvia. WiFi in widely available
in each country, with Lithuania’s incumbent in particular making an effort to expand its WiFi
network to approximately 1,000 hot spots by 2007. It is expected that wireless broadband
will become increasingly prominent in 2007 and beyond due to greater availability of portable
and mobile wireless broadband services, as well as the growing popularity of laptop
computers, with approximately 65,000 laptop computers expected to be sold in Estonia in
2006 alone, up from 44,000 in 2005. Estonia has had the most success in fostering an
Internet economy, developed in recognition of the ability of Information Communications
Technologies to improve social wellbeing. E-commerce and e-government services are
widely available, allowing the country’s citizens to access services and carry out commercial
and government-related activities online. Growing familiarity of such services, coupled with
increasing broadband access will encourage usage among new users, generating
efficiencies for both the providers and consumers of such services.
The untapped financial potential of underdeveloped broadband markets offers a new
revenue source for incumbents suffering from competition in low-growth potential fixed-line
voice markets. The big question hangs over the impact wireless will have on markets and in
particular, technologies such as WiMAX.
WiMAX networks have been deployed in Serbia and in Croatia by the incumbent and an
alternative operator, which has deployed a WiBRO network. A mesh WiFi network that will
provide nationwide broadband connectivity is under construction in Macedonia, with all of the
country’s schools already connected. NGN/VoIP deployments are underway in Croatia by
both the incumbent and alternative operators, in Greece by an alternative operator, in
Macedonia by the incumbent operator, in Romania by the incumbent operator and in