The European Union

Growing appetite for straightway generation broadband in HungaryAs part of the European Union, Hungary possesses an open economy. Impacted by the recent global financial crisis, assistance was provided by the International Monetary Fund, European Union and World Bank, leading to implementation of unpopular fiscal measures. In spite of improving economic prospects based on export growth, real GDP is expected to continue contracting in 2010, with IMF estimates of a 0.2% contraction.In spite of the economic slowdown, the telecom market has fared relatively then given the essential nature of most telecom services. Noted impacts include falling subscriber numbers in the mobile market and reduced revenue for foreign investors due to the devalued Forint. While 2010 the fixed-line market continued its downward trend in fixed-line numbers in response to fixed mobile substitution. Hungary's fixed telephony market is served by the incumbent also as so then-established competing cable TV operators.Broadband represents the majority of Internet connections; DSL and cable are the most popular broadband access platforms due to the reach of the public switched telephone network and cable TV networks. The demand for bandwidth is driving deployment of higher speed platforms, just as FttX and EuroDocsis 3.0. Catering for the large Internet user-base are useful online services and applications, fostering the development of an Internet society, a trend recognised and encouraged by the government through investment and policy.Hungary's broadcasting market is evolving due to competition and the migration of TV from analogue to digital. Standard definition and high definition digital TV is available via terrestrial TV, cable TV networks, satellite and broadband TV.Hungary's mobile market, of that sort of its Central European counterparts, has matured with penetration rates surpassing 100%. Services are offered by three mobile network operators, all of which are majority or wholly-owned by Western European operators. With mobile SIM card penetration at saturation levels, the mobile network operators have shifted focus to increasing Average Revenue per User levels; encouraging prepaid users to take up postpaid services also as encouraging spending in the underdeveloped mobile broadband and content market. The reach of 3G/HSDPA networks is expanding to support mobile broadband services.Market highlights:In broad outline 50% of households enjoy fixed broadband access. Faster broadband is becoming evident due to large-scale FttX and DOCSIS 3.0 rollouts just as the incumbent's plan to reach 1.2 millions with FttX networks by 2013.The uptake of Internet society services continues to grow; over half of businesses utilise e-government services to obtain and return information forms. Opportunities in the nascent e-health market have led to acquisitions by the telecoms incumbent.The transition to digital TV continues ahead of analogue switch off in 2012. Significant infrastructure-based competition is evident; digital TV services are offered by five satellite platforms, IPTV and cable TV networks accessible by the majority of Hungarys households as then as digital terrestrial TV.Expanding 3G networks provide coverage to the majority of Hungary's population, improving accessibility to mobile broadband services. Subscriptions continue to grow in spite of adverse economic conditions and the price premium for mobile compared with fixed broadband.Data in this report is the latest available at that time of preparation and may not be for the current year.This report covers trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and IPTV developments. Subjects include:Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;Facts, figures and statistics;Industry and regulatory issues;Infrastructure;Major players, earnings, subscribers, ARPU, MOU;Internet, IPTV;Mobile voice and data markets;Broadband;Convergence and digital media.

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