Last updated: 12 Oct 2010 Update History
Report Status: Archived
Report Pages: 50
Analyst: Paul Kwon
Publication Overview
This report covers trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP and IPTV developments. Subjects include:
Researcher:- Paul Kwon
Current publication date:- October 2010 (9th Edition)
Next publication date:- October 2011
Executive Summary
Croatia has prospered due to its close relationship with the European Union although its ambition of EU ascension has taken longer than anticipated. Close economic ties with both EU and non-EU nations are evident; principal export partners are Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy, while its main import sources are Italy, Germany and Russia.
The global financial crisis affected Croatia due to reduced capital inflows and a drop in export demand. This was coupled with a large current account deficit, a high level of external debt, as well as significant exposures to interest and exchange rate risks. The collapse in market confidence coincided with real GDP contraction of 5.8% during 2009. The EU forecasts a further 0.5% contraction during 2010 before expanding again in 2011 by 2%.
The overall telecoms industry has weathered the economic turmoil relatively well due to the essential nature of most telecom services although it has been impacted by initiatives such the imposition of a tax to improve the state budget and decreased demand for services.
Following market liberalisation alternative operators have made inroads into the fixed telephony market, with the incumbent’s market share slipping below 80% of total subscribers and revenue. To ensure fair competition, the regulator has introduced a number of regulatory measures including reducing the incumbent’s rates for call termination as well as improving access to the incumbent’s last mile network.
Broadband services are widely available and DSL is the dominant form of broadband access, with competing services available via cable, Fibre-to-the-Home, and wireless broadband. Recognising the potential of applying ICT to improve both social and economic development, Croatia has taken steps to develop a knowledge-based society, encompassing education, health and government services. A healthy digital TV market is evident, with content accessible via cable TV, satellite and broadband TV. Bundled offerings such as triple play have been launched by the cable operators and the telecoms incumbent.
Croatia’s mobile market is one of the most highly penetrated in the Balkans region with services offered by three mobile network operators. With the mobile voice market at near saturation levels, the established mobile network operators have focused on improving ARPU levels by encouraging prepaid subscribers to migrate to postpaid plans as well as encouraging take up of mobile broadband services based on deployed 3G/HSPA networks.
Croatia broadband and telecoms statistics – 2010 -2011
Sector |
2010 |
2011 |
Broadband (thousand) |
||
Fixed broadband penetration |
19% |
22% |
Mobile broadband penetration |
9% |
11% |
Subscribers to telecoms services (million) |
||
Fixed-line telephone subscribers |
1.9 |
1.9 |
Mobile phone subscribers |
6.1 |
6.3 |
(Source: BuddeComm based on industry data)
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
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