Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xl332h/montenegro) has announced the addition of the "Montenegro - Telecoms IP Networks Digital Media and Forecasts" report to their offering.

Fibre Infrastructure Gaining Traction

The telecoms industry has not escaped the effects of the financial turmoil, though given that many telecom services as considered essential to most people the sector these difficulties more robustly than others such as construction and retail.

Montenegro's liberalised telecom sector has been guided by legislation which adopts the regulatory principles found in the EU's regulatory framework for communications. This was updated in 2010 with the revised regulatory framework.

Fixed broadband services are available via a variety of technology platforms including DSL, cable, leased line and wireless. The fibre sector has shown particularly strong growth since 2010 as the incumbent has invested in infrastructure upgrades, albeit mainly to serve apartment blocks in the main towns. DSL is also strong given the legacy reach of the incumbent's copper network, coupled with its existing market presence and range of service offerings that include broadband TV.

Mobile penetration is among the highest in Europe, though this is partly due to the significant number of tourists visiting the country seasonally, as also the preponderance of popular prepaid cards WCDMA/HSPA networks have been launched, which has formed the basis for new mobile broadband services.

Market Highlights:

- Fixed broadband uptake continues to grow due to improving affordability despite adverse economic conditions. Supporting growth is high levels of PC usage for the region.

- The transition to digital terrestrial TV is underway, with a tender awarded during 2010 to design the transmission network ahead of analogue switch off by 2013.

- A mid-2012 law taxing SIM cards 1 per month may slow the growth in the popular prepaid sector, which accounts for about 38% of all mobile subscribers.

- The number of fibred premises more than doubled in 2012, marking operators' willingness in investing in next-generation services and infrastructure. Both fixed-line and mobile infrastructure sharing has been encouraged by the regulator to save unnecessary network construction costs. Prices for LLU and shared access to the incumbent's fixed network were set in mid-2012.

- Despite roaming tariff reductions introduced within the EU in mid-2012, MNOs in Montenegro still charge significantly higher rates for calls and SMS services.

- In 2012 a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry began hearing evidence from officials regarding corruption during the 2005 the privatisation of Telekom Montenegro.

- Telenor and T-Mobile Montenegro have begun trials of LTE, with the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands available.

Publication Overview:

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Montenegro's telecommunications market. It analyses the mobile, internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors.

This report is essential reading for those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecom sector in Montenegro.

Key Topics At A Glance:

1. Executive summary

2. Key statistics

3. Telecommunications market

4. Regulatory environment

5. Fixed network operators in Montenegro

6. Telecommunications infrastructure

7. Internet market

8. Fixed broadband market

9. Digital media

10. Mobile communications

List of Tables

List of Charts and Exhibit

Companies Mentioned:

- Crnogorski Telekom

- M:tel

- Telenor

For more information, including full table of contents, please visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xl332h/montenegro