A strong base for infrastructure-based competition with the network of the largest cable TV operator has been facilitated with a well developed cable TV sector. In addition, there is healthy competition in the digital pay TV market since broadband TV (IPTV (News - Alert)) and satellite pay TV is growing annually. The analogue switch off implementation has been brought forward to July 2010, from the original date of 2012. A phased transition to complete switch off is already underway.
The report states that Estonia has a highly developed mobile market with seven competing GSM or WCDMA networks pushing SIM card penetration levels beyond 100 percent. Also, service providers are focusing on increasing usage and hence revenue per subscriber, in the form of minutes of use and marketing of mobile broadband services in order to increase revenue. The marketing of mobile broadband services has great scope since the mobile broadband penetration levels are low at present.
According to the report, there is a healthy infrastructure based competition in the broadband market. FttH/FttB with a growth of 40 percent during 2008 is the biggest gainer. It makes up approximately 21 percent of total fixed broadband subscriptions. This trend is expected to continue in the future as the incumbent and competing operators start deploying fiber access networks. The report also states that usage of online services is high since more than half the population undertakes banking online, checks emails or looks for information and services. In addition, interactive or multimedia online services like chatting, web TV and VoIP are also increasing in demand annually.
IPTV is used by more than 10 percent of total TV viewers, with a 40 percent annual increase in subscriptions during 2008. IPTV is typically taken up by first-time pay TV subscribers. This claim is substantiated by the subscriber figures for cable TV operators which have remained constant since its introduction in 2006. In addition, growth in satellite pay TV take up has been relatively lower in 2008 due to annual growth rates in excess of 100 percent during the previous two years. In 2009, take up growth is again expected to be affected due to Estonia’s current economic situation.
All Estonian citizens and residents over the age of 15 are issued with an electronic ID (eID) card which facilitates secure authentication and legally binding digital signatures for public and private online services. The eID facilitates future development and take up of e-commerce and e-government services. In addition, the mobile SIM card-based version of eID is expected to open up opportunities in developing mobile-based or facilitated online services. More than 50 percent of businesses already utilize e-government services like filling in and returning forms.
The development of Digital Health Information System project, an e-health initiative, is expected to continue until 2013. Participation by all health care service providers is mandatory for the project. The initial benefits from this project include making and canceling appointments with a health care service provider online via one web portal.
At present, four 3G mobile networks are operating in Estonia. According to the report, subscriptions of mobile broadband services facilitated by 3G and HSDPA have been increasing annually by more than 100 percent since 2005.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Calvin Azuri
Quelle/Source: TMCnet, 04.08.2009
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