Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in Asia Pacific - October 2016 - Working Paper - escap
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Updated Analysis of the
Broadband Infrastructure
in Asia Pacific
October 2016
Working Paper
1
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the United Nations’ regional hub
promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The largest regional
intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as a strong
regional think-tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the evolving economic, social
and environmental dynamics of the region. The Commission’s strategic focus is to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which it does by reinforcing and deepening regional cooperation and integration to
advance connectivity, financial cooperation and market integration. ESCAP’s research and analysis coupled with its
policy advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to governments aims to support countries’
sustainable and inclusive development ambitions.
The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members.
The cover:
Image source and copyrights: https://pixabay.com
2Disclaimer: The working papers of the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction
Division should not be reported as representing the views of the United Nations. The views expressed herein are
those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. Working papers describe research
in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. This paper has been issued
without formal editing and the designations employed and material presented do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,
territory, city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Correspondence
concerning this paper should be addressed to the e-mail: escap-ids@un.org.
3Acknowledgements
The working paper was prepared by Mr. Michael Ruddy, the Director of International Research at Terabit
Consulting for the Information and Communications Technology and Development Section (IDS) of the
Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
October, 2016
4Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 4
Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................... 10
I. Executive summary .......................................................................................................... 13
II. Country analysis: Afghanistan........................................................................................ 14
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 14
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 14
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 14
Figure 1: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Afghanistan (Gbps), 2005-2026 16
III. Country analysis: Azerbaijan ......................................................................................... 17
Telecommunications Market Overview .................................................................................................. 17
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 17
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 17
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 17
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 17
Figure 2: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Azerbaijan (Gbps), 2005-2026.. 18
IV. Country analysis: Bangladesh ......................................................................................... 19
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 19
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 19
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 19
Figure 3: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Bangladesh (Gbps), 2005-2026 20
V. Country analysis: Bhutan ................................................................................................ 21
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 21
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 21
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 21
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 21
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 21
Figure 4: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Bhutan (Gbps), 2005-2026........ 22
VI. Country analysis: Cambodia ........................................................................................... 23
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 23
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 23
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 23
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 23
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 23
5Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 23
Figure 5: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Cambodia (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 25
VII. Country analysis: India ................................................................................................... 26
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 26
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 26
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 26
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 26
Figure 6: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in India (Gbps), 2005-2026 ........... 28
VIII. Country analysis: Indonesia ............................................................................................ 29
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 29
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 29
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 30
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 30
Figure 7: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Indonesia (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 31
IX. Country analysis: the Islamic Republic of Iran............................................................. 32
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 32
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 32
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 32
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 32
Figure 8: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in the Islamic Republic of Iran
(Gbps), 2005-2026 ................................................................................................................................ 34
X. Country analysis: Kazakhstan ........................................................................................ 35
Telecommunications Market Overview .................................................................................................. 35
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 35
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 35
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 35
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 35
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 36
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 36
Figure 9: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Kazakhstan (Gbps), 2005-2026 37
XI. Country analysis: the Kyrgyz Republic ......................................................................... 38
Telecommunications Market Overview .................................................................................................. 38
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 38
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 38
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 38
6Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 39
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 39
Figure 10: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Kyrgyz Republic (Gbps), 2005-
2026 ........................................................................................................................................................ 40
XII. Country analysis: Lao PDR ............................................................................................. 41
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 41
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 41
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 41
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 41
Figure 11: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Lao PDR (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 43
XIII. Country analysis: Malaysia ............................................................................................. 44
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 44
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 44
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 44
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 44
Figure 12: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Malaysia (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 46
XIV. Country analysis: Maldives ............................................................................................. 47
XV. Country analysis: Mongolia ............................................................................................ 48
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 48
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 48
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 48
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 48
Figure 14: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Mongolia (Gbps), 2005-2026 .. 49
XVI. Country analysis: Myanmar ........................................................................................... 50
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 50
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 50
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 50
Figure 15: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Myanmar (Gbps), 2005-2026 . 51
XVII. Country analysis: Nepal................................................................................................... 52
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 52
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 52
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 52
Figure 16: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Nepal (Gbps), 2005-2026 ........ 53
XVIII. Country analysis: Pakistan ...................................................................................... 54
Fixed-Line Telephony Market ................................................................................................................. 54
7Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 54
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 54
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 54
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 54
Figure 17: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Pakistan (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 55
XIX. Country analysis: the Philippines ................................................................................... 56
Telecommunications Market Overview .................................................................................................. 56
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 56
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 56
Figure 18: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in the Philippines (Gbps), 2005-
2026 ........................................................................................................................................................ 58
XX. Country analysis: the Russian Federation ..................................................................... 59
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 59
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 59
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 59
Figure 19: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in the Russian Federation (Gbps),
2005-2026.............................................................................................................................................. 60
XXI. Country analysis: Singapore ........................................................................................... 61
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 61
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 61
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 61
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 61
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 61
Figure 20: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Singapore (Gbps), 2005-2026. 63
XXII. Country analysis: Sri Lanka ........................................................................................... 64
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 64
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 64
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 64
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 64
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 64
Figure 21: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Sri Lanka (Gbps), 2005-2026 .. 65
XXIII. Country analysis: Tajikistan .................................................................................... 66
Regulation and Government Intervention .............................................................................................. 66
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 66
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 66
8Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 66
Figure 22: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Tajikistan (Gbps), 2005-2026 . 67
XXIV. Country analysis: Thailand ...................................................................................... 68
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 68
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 68
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 68
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 68
Figure 23: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Thailand (Gbps), 2005-2026... 70
XXV. Country analysis: Turkey ................................................................................................ 71
Fixed Line Telephony Market .................................................................................................................. 71
Mobile Telephony Market ...................................................................................................................... 71
Internet and Broadband Market ............................................................................................................. 71
Domestic Network Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 71
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 71
Figure 24: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Turkey (Gbps), 2005-2026 ..... 72
XXVI. Country analysis: Turkmenistan ............................................................................. 73
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 73
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 73
Figure 25: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Turkmenistan (Gbps), 2005-2026
................................................................................................................................................................. 74
XXVII. Country analysis: Uzbekistan .................................................................................. 75
Regulation and Government Intervention .............................................................................................. 75
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 75
Figure 26: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Uzbekistan (Gbps), 2005-202676
XXVIII. Country analysis: Vietnam....................................................................................... 77
International Internet Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 77
International Network Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 77
Figure 27: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Vietnam (Gbps), 2005-2026 ... 78
9Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Acronyms
Third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology 3G
Fourth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology 4G
Africa-Asia-Europe cable AAE cable
Asia Africa Europe-1 cable AAE-1 cable
Asia Africa Europe-1 system AAE-1 system
Asia-America Gateway system AAG system
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ADSL
Asia-Pacific Cable Network 2 APCN-2
Asia-Pacific Gateway APG
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ARMM
Asia Submarine-cable Express cable ASE cable
Asia Submarine-cable Express system ASE system
Bay of Bengal Gateway cable BBG cable
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal BBIN
Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. BBNL
Batam-Dumai-Melaka BDM
Bangladeshi taka BDT
BIMP-EAGA Submarine Terrestrial cable BEST cable
Business process outsourcing BPO
Batam-Rengit Cable System BRCS
Batam-Singapore Cable System BSCS
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited BSNL
Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd BSSCL
Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd BTCL
China United Network Communications Group Company Limited China Unicom
China Mobile International Limited CMI
Cross-Peninsular Cable System CPCS
China Telecom Global Limited CTG
Digital broadband network in Central and South Asia Digital CASA
Dumai-Melaka Cable System DMCS
Diverse Route for European and Asian Markets DREAM
Digital Subscriber Line DSL
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company du
East Asia Crossing City-to-City cable EAC-C2C cable
Electricite du Laos EDL
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand EGAT
Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao ETL
Evolution-Data Optimized EvDO
Fiber-to-the-home FTTH
Fiber-to-the-premises FTTP
Gigabyte GB
Gigabyte per second Gbps
Global Cloud Xchange GCX
Gross Domestic Product GDP
Teleguam Holdings GTA
Hybrid fiber coax HFC
High Speed Broadband HSBB
10Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Indonesia Broadband Plan IBP
Information and communications technology ICT
Internet protocol IP
Internet service provider ISP
Kilobyte per second Kbps
Kyrgyzstan Som KGS
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy KZT
Local area networks LAN
Luwuk Tutuyan Cable System LTCS
Long-Term Evolution LTE
Megabyte per second Mbps
Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand cable MCT Cable
Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand cable MCT cable
Megahertz MHz
Mobile TeleSystems MTS
Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications MPT
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited MTNL
Malaysian Internet Exchange MyIX
National Optical Fibre Network NOFN
Optical Fiber Cable Ring OFC
Optical ground wire OPGW
Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company PLDT
Pishgaman Oman-Iran cable POI cable
Russian Optical Trans-Arctic Cable System ROTACS
RAM Telecom International RTI
South Asian Subregional Economic Cooperation SASEC
South Atlantic 3/South Africa Far East SAT-3/SAFE
South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3 Sea-Me-We-3
South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 4 Sea-Me-We-4
South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 5 Sea-Me-We-5
South-East Asia – United States cable SEA-US cable
South-East Asia – United States consortium SEA-US consortium
Singapore Telecommunications Limited Singtel
Sistem Kabel Rakyat 1Malaysia cable SKR1M cable
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC SLT
Sulawesi Maluku Papua Cable System SMPCS
Short Message Service SMS
Silk Route Gateway cable SRG-1 cable
Saudi Telecom Company STC
Star Telecom Lao STL
Synchronous Transport Module 45 STM-45
Synchronous Transport Module 64 STM-64
Iran Power Generation Transmission & Distribution Management
Company TAVANIR
Terabyte per second Tbps
Telecommunication Company of Iran TCI
Egypt Telecom TE
Trans-Eurasia Information Network TEIN
PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International Telin
Telecom Italia Sparkle TI Sparkle
11Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Telecommunications Infrastructure Company TIC
Telekom Malaysia Berhad TM
Turk Telekom International TTI
Trans World Associates Limited TWA
United states dollar USD
Voice over IP VoIP
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access WiMax
World Trade Organization WTO
12Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
I. Executive summary
This working paper aims to provide data and update analysis1 on broadband connectivity, specifically in the
area of broadband and telephony markets, domestic and international Internet connectivity as well as
international bandwidth among 27 ESCAP member countries, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian
Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
In addition, historical trends and projected requirements for international bandwidth for voice, corporate
data as well as the international Internet are presented for each country.
This study was conducted in support of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS), a regional
broadband connectivity initiative2. The AP-IS is designed around four pillars of 1) developing physical ICT
infrastructure, 2) improving Internet traffic and network management, 3) enhancing e-resilience and 4)
promoting digital inclusion. The AP-IS initiative aims to be a catalyst to develop seamless regional
broadband networks which improve affordability, reliance, resilience and coverage and thereby narrow the
digital divide, develop the Internet ecosystem, support the implementation of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) and stimulate digital economy in Asia and the Pacific.
In recognition of the need for concerted regional efforts to address the disparities and develop broadband
connectivity for the achievement of SDGs, the inaugural session of the Committee on Information and
Communications Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation3, held from 5-7 October 2016 in
Bangkok, endorsed the AP-IS Master Plan4 and Regional Cooperation Framework Document5.
This report was developed in support of the AP-IS Pillars on developing physical ICT infrastructure as well
as improving Internet traffic and network management. The findings point to disparities within the Asia-
Pacific region in terms of available international bandwidth, affordability and physical ICT infrastructure.
The report aims to stimulate discussions among policy and decision makers, private sector, academia and
think tanks on how regional broadband connectivity could be shaped for inclusive broadband and digital
economy for the achievement of SDGs and to promote concrete policy and regulatory updates, financing
and investment requirements and implementation modalities to pave the way to realize the vision of the
AP-IS.
1
The findings of this study builds on previous ESCAP studies, including ESCAP (2015), “An In-Depth Study on the Broadband
Infrastructure in Afghanistan and Mongolia”, available from http://www.unescap.org/resources/depth-study-broadband-
infrastructure-afghanistan-and-mongolia-0; ESCAP (2015), “An in-depth study on the broadband infrastructure in South and
West Asia”, available from http://www.unescap.org/resources/depth-study-broadband-infrastructure-south-and-west-asia-0; and
ESCAP (2015), “An In-Depth Study on the Broadband Infrastructure in Afghanistan and Mongolia”, available from
http://www.unescap.org/resources/depth-study-broadband-infrastructure-afghanistan-and-mongolia
2
ESCAP, "Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway". Available from http://www.unescap.org/our-work/ict-disaster-risk-
reduction/asia-pacific-information-superhighway/about.
3
http://www.unescap.org/events/committee-information-and-communications-technology-science-technology-and-innovation-
first
4
http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/pre-ods/CICTSTI1_2E_rev1.pdf
5
http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/pre-ods/CICTSTI1_3E_rev1.pdf
13Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
II. Country analysis: Afghanistan
Domestic Network Connectivity
As of 2015, Afghanistan’s OFC Backbone Ring project had connected 21 provincial capitals: Kabul;
Jalalabad; Laghman, Logar, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, Qalat, Kandahar, Lashkargah,
Heraat, Maimana, Sheberghan, Mazaar-e-sharief, Aibak, Pulekhumri, Kundoz, Parwan, and Takhar
In 2016, four additional provinces were expected to be connected: Bamiyan, Badakshan, Kapisa, and
Kunar.
Many domestic connectivity projects have been delayed due to security issues. Due to such concerns,
construction of the OFC Backbone Ring between Heraat and Maimana has yet to be completed; domestic
connectivity is provided via an international connection through Turkmenistan which currently operates at
a capacity of two STM-4s (1.244 Gbps), with an expected upgrade to STM-64 (10 Gbps).
Nine provinces remain unconnected: Farah, Panjsheer, Sarepul, Qalaienow, Zaranj, Daikundi, Chagcharan,
Tarinkot, and Nuristan. The cost of connecting these provinces is USD$40 million.
There is reportedly some effort underway to ensure that the Afghan Ministry of Public Works provide for
infrastructure sharing that would include the installation of new fiber optic duct during road construction
and upgrading projects.
International Internet Bandwidth
Afghanistan’s international IP bandwidth (including private traffic) was approximately 15 Gbps as of year-
end 2014, and between 24 and 27 Gbps as of year-end 2015.
The price of Afghan IP transit capacity as of 2016 was as low as $20-$25 per Mbps per month via Pakistan,
while capacity purchased through other countries (e.g. Uzbekistan) cost as much as $170.
International Network Connectivity
International connectivity as of 2015 included two connections to Pakistan (at Turkham and Spin Boldak);
one connection to Tajikistan (at Sherkhan Bandar); one connection to Uzbekistan (at Hayratan); two
connections to Turkmenistan (at Aqina and Turghundi), and one connection to Iran (at Islam Qala).
14Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
As of 2015, capacity on the international links was as follows:
Table 1. Overview of capacity on the international links by city
Design Utilized
City Border
Capacity Capacity
Torkham Peshawar, Pakistan 50 Gbps 18 Gbps
Sher Khan Bandar Tajikistan 2.5 Gbps 6 Mbps
Hayratan (Mazar i Sharif) Uzbekistan 5 Gbps 3 Gbps
Aqinah Turkmenistan 2.5 Gbps 1.9 Gbps
Torghundi Turkmenistan 2.5 Gbps 1.2 Gbps
Islam Qala Iran 2.5 Gbps 624 Mbps
Spin Boldak Quetta, Pakistan 20 Gbps 8.7 Gbps
Source: Author’s estimation based on field survey information.
Proposed international connectivity includes a planned 480-kilometer link to China from Faizabad,
Badakshan via the Wakhan Corridor. The first 44 kilometers of the project, from Faizabad to
Baharak, were under construction as of mid-2015. From Baharak to Broghel via Ishkashim and
Khondood, installation along a mostly gravel road was being considered. For the final 117 kilometers
of the link, installation would be along a mountainous track between Broghel and the Chinese border.
In late-2015 the World Bank Group commissioned a study to determine the feasibility of the Digital
CASA project, which would connect Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, with the potential
for interconnection and/or future expansion to Iran, Kazakhstan, China, and other neighboring
countries.
15Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Figure 1: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Afghanistan (Gbps), 2005-2026
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Internet 0.3 0.5 0.8 1 1.5 2 2.8 3.8 6.7 13.4 22.0
International Corporate Data 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.6 2.0
International Switched Voice 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4
Total International Bandwidth 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.4 2.2 2.8 3.8 5.1 8.4 15.4 24.4
CAGR (2005-2015) 48%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
International Internet 35 61 104 189 321 530 778 1,106 1,555 2,162 2,945
International Corporate Data 3 5 8 13 21 34 54 86 137 220 352
International Switched Voice 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
Total International Bandwidth 39 67 113 203 343 565 833 1,193 1,694 2,384 3,299
CAGR (2016-2026) 56%
30 3,500
25 3,000
2,500
20
2,000
(Gbps)
(Gbps)
Voice Voice
15
Corporate 1,500 Corporate
Data Data
10
Internet 1,000 Internet
5
500
0 0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
16Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
III. Country analysis: Azerbaijan
Telecommunications Market Overview
In the near-term, the Azerbaijani telecommunications market is expected to be negatively
impacted by weak prices for petroleum, which accounts for more than 40 percent of gross
domestic product and almost three-fourths of government revenue. Over the course of 2015, the
Azerbaijani manat lost half its value, most acutely in December of 2015 when the Azerbaijani
government adopted a floating currency regime. However, the ICT sector has been positioned as
a cornerstone of the government’s economic diversification plan and will likely benefit from
regulatory reform, promotion of competition, and government intervention in the form of the
National Broadband Development Plan, which is focused largely on fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)
technology and increased rural penetration.
Mobile Telephony Market
The mobile telephony market has leveled off at approximately 10 million subscribers, well over
100 percent of the population. The fixed-line market also remains relatively constant, although it
continues to add a modest 15,000 lines per year.
Internet and Broadband Market
ADSL subscribership increased 20 percent to 477,000 while the total number of fixed Internet
connections grew to 710,000; mobile broadband subscribership totaled 883,000.
International Internet Bandwidth
The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported in its core indicators on
ICT infrastructure that the country’s international Internet bandwidth was 35.1 Kbps per capita
as of 2014, implying a total of 340 Gbps. IP transit capacity was priced at approximately $20 per
Mbps per month as of 2015.
The price of wholesale Internet bandwidth, as well as consumer Internet service, has fallen
significantly over the last six to seven years, with the country’s leading wholesale provider, Delta
Telecom, procuring relatively inexpensive bandwidth via Russian providers TTK and
Rostelecom, as well as the Turkish incumbent operator Turk Telekom.
International Network Connectivity
In March of 2015 the Government of Turkmenistan indicated that it would move forward with
plans to construct a submarine cable between Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan and Baku,
Azerbaijan, as part of the Trans-Eurasian Information Superhighway (TASIM) project.
17Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Figure 2: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Azerbaijan (Gbps), 2005-2026
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Internet 0.3 0.8 2.5 5.0 10.0 40.0 100.0 200.0 260.0 340.0 390.0
International Corporate Data 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.5 6.0 15.0 30.0 39.0 51.0 58.5
International Switched Voice 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3
Total International Bandwidth 0.4 1.0 3.0 5.9 11.6 46.1 115.2 230.2 299.2 391.2 448.8
CAGR (2005-2015) 101%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
International Internet 550 800 1,160 1,680 2,440 3,540 5,130 7,440 10,790 15,650 22,690
International Corporate Data 70 100 150 230 350 530 800 1,200 1,800 2,700 4,050
International Switched Voice 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Total International Bandwidth 620 900 1,311 1,911 2,791 4,071 5,931 8,641 12,591 18,351 26,742
CAGR (2016-2026) 46%
500 30,000
450
25,000
400
350
20,000
300
(Gbps)
(Gbps)
Voice Voice
250 15,000
200 Corporate Corporate
Data Data
10,000
150 Internet
Internet
100
5,000
50
0 0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
18Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
IV. Country analysis: Bangladesh
Internet and Broadband Market
In February of 2016, BTCL reduced the prices of its BCube ADSL service; at the same time, it
announced that it would eliminate volume-based packages with data limits.
The price of its 256-Kbps service was reduced from 450 BDT (USD $5.75) to 300 BDT
(USD$3.75); its 512-Kbps service was reduced from 700 BDT ($9.00) to 500 BDT ($6.50); and
its 1.5 Mbps package was reduced from 1,600 BDT (USD$20.50) to 1,000 BDT ($12.75).
International Internet Bandwidth
Bangladesh’s international Internet bandwidth was 91 Gbps as of year-end 2014.
In September of 2015, the Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd. (BSCCL) announced a
42 percent reduction in the price of IP transit at international gateways, from 1,068 BDT
(USD$14) per Mbps per month to 625 BDT (USD$8). The price applied to wholesale volume
purchases at 10 Gbps or greater.
BSCCL has announced several deals to sell what it considers to be surplus capacity on the Sea-
Me-We-4 cable to foreign clientele, including an agreement in June of 2015 with BSNL to lease
10 Gbps of bandwidth at a reported price of approximately $100,000 per month, as well as a
long-term transaction in August of 2015 with Telecom Italia Sparkle for 90 Gbps of bandwidth.
The latter transaction attracted criticism for what was reported to be an extremely low price, but
BSCCL officials defended the sale, claiming that much of the company’s Sea-Me-We-4 capacity
was unused, and that the BSCCL investment had been profitable. The company said that
Bangladesh faced no shortage of bandwidth, given BSCCL’s 1.3 Tbps of capacity in the planned
Sea-Me-We-5 cable, due to enter service in 2016.
International Network Connectivity
In April of 2015 the Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd. confirmed its participation in
the Sea-Me-We-5 project, with a total investment of $73 million, funded in part through a $44
million loan from the Islamic Development Bank. As of early-2016 the 24-Tbps, three-fiber-pair
cable had been landed in France, Djibouti, Malaysia, and Singapore, and was expected to be
fully-completed later in the year.
In late-2015 fiber connectivity was installed between Panchagarh and Banglabandha, a distance
of 58 kilometers, in anticipation of a BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) fiber network
within the aegis of the South Asian Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Information
Superhighway. It was expected that the network would be used to export BSCCL’s excess
submarine cable capacity to neighboring countries.
19Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Figure 3: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Bangladesh (Gbps), 2005-2026
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Internet 0 0 1 3 6 10 18 35 50 91 150
International Corporate Data 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 5 7 15 26
International Switched Voice 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6
Total International Bandwidth 1 1 3 5 9 14 24 44 61 111 182
CAGR (2005-2015) 68%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
International Internet 250 380 570 850 1,270 1,900 2,800 4,200 6,300 9,300 13,500
International Corporate Data 38 55 80 117 169 245 356 516 748 1,084 1,572
International Switched Voice 7 9 10 12 14 17 20 23 27 32 37
Total International Bandwidth 295 444 660 979 1,453 2,162 3,176 4,739 7,075 10,416 15,109
CAGR (2016-2026) 48%
200 16,000
180
14,000
160
12,000
140
10,000
120
(Gbps)
(Gbps)
Voice Voice
100 8,000
80 Corporate Corporate
Data 6,000
Data
60 Internet
Internet
4,000
40
2,000
20
0 0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
20Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
V. Country analysis: Bhutan
Fixed Line Telephony Market
Bhutan’s fixed-line market continued to shrink, with only 21,811 subscribers, consisting mostly
of government, institutional, and corporate customers.
Mobile Telephony Market
Bhutan’s mobile telephony penetration rate was 87 percent as of year-end 2015. Bhutan Telecom
had 486,228 mobile subscribers and a 72 percent market share, while Tashi Cell had 190,200
subscribers and a 28 percent share.
Bhutan Telecom’s share of the 3G market was 78 percent, while Tashi InfoComm had a 22
percent share. Bhutan Telecom launched 4G in Thimphu in 2013, while Tashi InfoComm was
expected to launch in 2016.
Internet and Broadband Market
The Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority reported Internet subscribership to be 482,068, or
64 percent of the population, as of year-end 2015. Most subscribers (94 percent) used 3G
wireless service, while fixed-line accounted for only 6 percent of subscribers. There were 500 4G
subscribers.
International Internet Bandwidth
Bhutan’s international Internet bandwidth was 5.7 Gbps as of year-end 2014. Bandwidth is
expected to increase significantly in 2017 when the government plans to implement a third
Internet link. A feasibility study was reportedly being procured for the project as of late-2015.
International Network Connectivity
Because Bhutan’s two international links both converge in Siliguri, India, as of 2015 Bhutan’s
government was reportedly exploring the purchase of an alternative route that would access
Bangladesh’s capacity on the Sea-Me-We-4 submarine cable.
21Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Figure 4: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Bhutan (Gbps), 2005-2026
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Internet 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 3.1 5.7 7.5
International Corporate Data 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.8
International Switched Voice 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Total International Bandwidth 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.9 1.8 3.8 6.4 8.4
CAGR (2005-2015) 61%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
International Internet 15 35 55 86 136 213 334 525 800 1,200 1,650
International Corporate Data 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 30 50 80 120
International Switched Voice 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
Total International Bandwidth 16 37 58 91 145 227 356 555 851 1,281 1,771
CAGR (2016-2026) 60%
9 2,000
8 1,800
7 1,600
1,400
6
1,200
5
(Gbps)
(Gbps)
Voice Voice
1,000
4 Corporate 800 Corporate
Data Data
3
Internet 600 Internet
2 400
1 200
0 0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
22Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
VI. Country analysis: Cambodia
Fixed Line Telephony Market
There were 284,000 fixed line subscribers as of year-end 2015.
Mobile Telephony Market
There were 21.7 million mobile subscribers as of year-end 2015.
Internet and Broadband Market
As of mid-2015 there were 6.2 million mobile Internet subscribers and 77,000 fixed Internet
subscribers in Cambodia.
For the period 2013 to 2018, Cambodia has adopted a five-year Broadband Strategic Action
Plan, which includes development of competition, reform of the country’s regulatory
environment, promotion of investment, community broadband access, availability and
affordability, increased consumer broadband penetration and increased broadband availability in
schools and universities, and e-Government initiatives.
Cambodia’s ICT Master Plan 2020 calls for increased investment in expanding ICT penetration,
training, and employment, as well as ICT usage in education and across e-government
applications. The plan also calls for increased investment in national backbone infrastructure
and network connectivity.
Typical consumer broadband pricing was as follows:
1. USD$8 per month + USD$8 deposit for 1 Mbps ADSL (Telecom Cambodia)
2. USD$40 per month for 1 Mbps ADSL or WiMax (Ezecom)
The cheapest 1 Mbps package cost:
$104 per year (Telecom Cambodia ADSL) / $1,200 nominal per-capita GDP = 8.7 percent of
nominal per-capita GDP
Domestic Network Connectivity
Domestically, three terrestrial fiber networks are in service: as of 2015, Viettel’s optical fiber
backbone had been expanded to 17,200 kilometers in length, the Cambodia Fiber Optic Cable
Network covered 7,611 kilometers, and Telecom Cambodia’s fiber network spanned
approximately 1,600 kilometers.
International Internet Bandwidth
Cambodia’s international Internet bandwidth was estimated to be 30 Gbps as of year-end 2014.
International Network Connectivity
23Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Three planned Cambodian submarine cable projects are currently under development or
consideration.
The supply contract for the planned Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand (MCT) cable was awarded to
Huawei in May of 2015 and was reported to have come into force in September of 2015. The
$75 million, 1,300-kilometer system would connect Cherating, Malaysia to Rayong, Thailand,
with a branching unit to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Its Cambodian investor is Ezecom, and the
other two parties are Symphony Communication of Thailand and Telekom Malaysia, will have a
design capacity of 30 Tbps and is expected to enter service in late-2016.
Cambodian ISP Chuan Wei was initially identified as an investor in the planned Asia Africa
Europe-1 (AAE-1) system, but as of 2015 the consortium indicated that Chuan Wei had been
replaced by Viettel subsidiary Metfone as the project’s Cambodian investor. The proposed AAE-
1 branch to Cambodia is not expected to be part of the system’s initial configuration, but may be
constructed in subsequent expansion phases.
Chuan Wei announced in mid-2014 that it would serve as landing party for a Cambodian
extension of the existing Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) cable, which connects Japan,
Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. The branch would be constructed via a
submerged branching unit northeast of the Singaporean landing point. However, as of 2015
there had been no publicly-reported progress on its construction.
24Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
Figure 5: Historical and Forecasted International Bandwidth in Cambodia (Gbps), 2005-2026
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Internet 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.7 1.5 2.3 6.0 11.0 17.9 29.3 50.0
International Corporate Data 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.9 1.6 2.6 4.2 6.8
International Switched Voice 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5
Total International Bandwidth 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.9 1.8 2.8 7.1 12.8 20.8 33.9 57.4
CAGR (2005-2015) 97%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
International Internet 78 116 173 257 384 572 852 1,269 1,891 2,818 4,198
International Corporate Data 11 18 26 37 52 73 104 147 206 289 405
International Switched Voice 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 7 10
Total International Bandwidth 90 135 200 295 437 647 959 1,420 2,103 3,114 4,613
CAGR (2016-2026) 48%
70 5,000
4,500
60
4,000
50 3,500
3,000
40
(Gbps)
(Gbps)
Voice Voice
2,500
30 Corporate Corporate
2,000
Data Data
20 Internet 1,500 Internet
1,000
10
500
0 0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
25Updated Analysis of the Broadband Infrastructure in the ESCAP Region
VII. Country analysis: India
Internet and Broadband Market
There were 15.75 million fixed-broadband subscribers and 69.99 million mobile broadband
subscribers, for a total of 85.74 million broadband subscribers. DSL was the country’s leading
fixed-broadband technology, with 13.0 million subscribers, while Ethernet/LAN connections
served 1.6 million subscribers, cable modem 920,000 subscribers, fiber-to-the-premises 110,000,
and leased lines 60,000.
In the fixed-broadband market, BSNL had a market share of 69.8 percent, Bharti 8.0 percent,
MTNL 6.0 percent, Atria Convergence Technology 3.2 percent, and You Broadband 2.3 percent.
In the mobile Internet market, Bharti had a 27.2 percent share, Vodafone 23.8 percent, Idea 13.8
percent, Reliance Communications 12.7 percent, and BSNL 8.2 percent.
Domestic Network Connectivity
In September of 2015, the Indian Department of Telecommunications said that it would submit
plans for its $11 billion BharatNet program to India’s cabinet before the end of the year. The
network would be developed by the special purpose vehicle Bharat Broadband Network Ltd.
(BBNL) and would greatly expand the mandate of India’s $3 billion National Optical Fibre
Network (NOFN) initiative, which aimed primarily to connect rural villages; BharatNet would
provide broadband connectivity in urban areas as well.
The construction of a cable project linking Chennai, India to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
with a landing point in Port Blair and additional connectivity to the Lakshadweep Islands, was
expected to be approved by the Indian government in late-2015. The project, which would
ultimately connect 22 islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (including 18 islands with
populations of over 100 and four islands with facilities for police, forest camps, and/or tourists)
and 10 villages in the Lakshadweep Islands, would cost approximately $360 million. The
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are served by four operators (Airtel, BSNL, Reliance, and
Vodafone), while the Lakshadweep Islands are served by only two (Airtel and BSNL).
International Internet Bandwidth
India’s international Internet bandwidth was 1.864 Tbps as of year-end 2015. It was 1.295 Tbps
as of year-end 2014.
International Network Connectivity
In January of 2015, Global Cloud Xchange said that it had shortlisted three vendors for the
supply of its India Cloud Xchange cable, which it had previously announced in July of 2014 (at
that time, the ready-for-service date of the system was mid-2016). The 5,060-kilometer system
would link Mumbai and Singapore, with branches to Trivandrum and/or Chennai, and it would
comprise four fiber pairs, each supporting 80 wavelengths of 100 Gbps, for a total capacity of 32
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