Research and Markets: Latin American Broadband and Internet Market Report 2010

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/1bfca9/latin_american_bro) has announced the addition of the "Latin American Broadband and Internet Market" report to their offering.

This report covers developments in the broadband and Internet markets of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin America lags behind in broadband:

Estimated broadband penetration in Latin America and the Caribbean was about 6.3% at end-2009, well below the world average of approximately 8.0%.

The slow uptake of broadband in the region can be attributed to several factors, including:

• limited bandwidth;
• high prices due to insufficient competition;
• low PC penetration;
• insufficient fixed-line structure to carry ADSL;
• poverty and unequal income distribution;
• a lack of economies of scale;
• regulatory hurdles.

On the positive side, bandwidth has been increasing in most countries, leading to higher speeds and lower prices.

ADSL, the leading broadband technology in Latin America, represents about two thirds of the total broadband market.

Although several countries include Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) in their telecom regulations, there is no mechanism to ensure implementation. Argentina and a few other nations have developed wholesale broadband markets, but most Latin American incumbents charge excessively high access fees, rendering the business of ADSL resale unviable. As a result, ADSL is usually available only from the fixed-line incumbents. Some countries have more than one regional incumbent, but each one only offers ADSL services within its region of operation, therefore there is no competition.

In fact, the only meaningful broadband competition in Latin America is across technologies.

Cable modem access, in particular, has been gaining popularity thanks to triple play solutions comprising voice, Internet, and video over Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) cables. About one third of Latin American broadband is via cable modem. The largest proportion of cable modem subscribers can be found in Chile, where this technology accounts for 46% of the broadband market.

Wireless and satellite broadband are widely available, particularly for corporate customers. WiMAX can be found in most countries, but it has attracted only a small number of subscribers.

We estimate that broadband penetration will grow to at least 6.8% by end-2010. Given the regions general economic indicators, there is ample room for expansion. Although the situation varies considerably from country to country, the region as a whole should be a fertile ground for broadband investment in 2010/2011.

Key Chapters in this Report Include:

1. Argentina

2. Belize

3. Bolivia

4. Brazil

5. Caribbean Countries

6. Chile

7. Colombia

8. Costa Rica

9. Cuba

10. Dominican Republic

11. Ecuador

12. El Salvador

13. Guatemala

14. Guyana

15. Haiti

16. Honduras

17. Jamaica

18. Mexico

19. Nicaragua

20. Panama

21. Paraguay

22. Peru

23. Puerto Rico

24. Suriname

25. Uruguay

26. Venezuela

27. Glossary of Abbreviations

To view the reports full table of contents and for more information, please visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/1bfca9/latin_american_bro

CONTACT:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

KEYWORDS:   Central America  South America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Internet  Telecommunications

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