This report provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in telecommunications, broadcasting and pay TV markets in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
Subjects covered include:Key Statistics Market and Industry Overviews Regulatory Environment Major Players (fixed and mobile) Infrastructure Mobile Voice and Data Markets Internet, VoIP, IPTV Broadband (FttH, DSL, cable TV, wireless) Convergence and Digital MediaBrunei, as small wealthy nation in South East Asia, made early moves to ensure that it was delivering up to date telecommunications services to its population.
The target of 100% digitalisation was achieved in 1995.
Telecommunications throughout Brunei are of a high standard and the country ranks well in Asia in terms of penetration and infrastructure.
Brunei’s mobile penetration, which stood at a reasonably healthy 32% by end-2001, continued to grow strongly and had hit 90% by early 2006.
With some encouragement from the government, it is not surprising then that the citizens of Brunei are strong consumers of telecommunications services.
Despite this, if the country is to continue to maintain the pace required to be globally competitive, it must further restructure and generally liberalise the local telecom industry.
For the moment things appear to have seriously stalled.
Much more is required in the area of sector reform.
The local market continues to be dominated by Jabatan Telekom Brunei (JTB), the incumbent telco that is still a division within the Ministry of Communications.Singapore continues to maintain its status as a world leader in telecommunications and certainly has a positive outlook for its local telecommunications sector.
The country has built a high quality and extremely progressive regulatory telecommunications environment that has, in turn, generated a highly competitive market.
All restrictions on direct and indirect foreign ownership within the country’s telecom sector have been lifted.
I such a progressive market, over 98% of homes have fixed-line telephone connections and about 20% of the population have two telephones at home.
It was one of the first countries in the world to have a fully digital telephone network.Although incumbent Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) continues to play a major role in the Singapore telecom sector, liberalisation has seen a host of new operators entering the market, helping exploit the competitive situation.
In fact, in the lead up to liberalisation, the government had issued five facilities-based and 29 service-based licences.
Interestingly, with strong competition in its domestic market, SingTel took the decision to expand offshore and has now successfully established a considerable presence in regional markets, including the ownership of Optus, the second ranked mobile operator in Australia.Singapore was the first country in the world to deploy Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) commercially when SingTel launched its service in November 1997.
It came as some surprise, therefore, when Singapore initially moved slowly on the large-scale adoption of broadband Internet access.
Following a major effort to expand its broadband services, however, the country is now a serious player, with more than 65% of Internet households having broadband access by early 2006.
It is well positioned for the development and adoption of a full range of triple play and Next Generation (NGN) services.