Regulator Restrictions Hold Back Pay-TV Boom in Argentina, Finds Pyramid Research

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, January 19 - Argentina's soaring mobile and pay-TV penetration, the country has not
seen the same level of development in converged and bundled offers than in
other markets in the region as regulators continue to block competition,
according to the latest report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the
telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network
(www.lightreading.com).

Argentina: Regulators Block Competition in Key Telecom Sectors offers a
precise, incisive profile of the country's converged telecommunications,
media, and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in
the Argentinean market. This 30-page report provides detailed competitive
analysis of both the fixed and mobile sectors, tracks the market shares of
technologies and services, and monitors the introduction and spread of new
technologies, such as WiMax, IPTV, and VoIP. It provides a comprehensive view
of the Argentinean communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating
near-term opportunities, and assessing upcoming risks factors. Download an
excerpt of this report here
(www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PRN011910_CIRARGEN).

Mobile penetration in Argentina is estimated at 120 percent at year-end
2009, compared with 89 percent for the region as a whole, while its pay-TV
penetration, at 64 percent of households, is among the highest in the world,
notes Luis Portela, Analyst at Pyramid Research and co-author of the report.

"The number of double-play connections will continue to increase over the
forecast period at a 3.2 percent CAGR through 2014, and triple-play
connections will expand nine-fold over the same period," says Portela, "but
the latter could expand even faster if telecom and cable companies manage to
find an agreement with the regulator over pay-TV and voice service
provision." Portela continues: "The high pay-TV penetration in Argentina
would make it ripe for multiplay offerings, however, regulations preventing
operators from offering IPTV and VoIP services mean that the Argentinean
multiplay market is not as developed as it could be."

From a service revenue perspective, mobile broadband Internet access is
one of the most promising. "Mobile operators are increasingly focusing on
this application as the killer application for its 3G network, translating
into an estimated 59 percent CAGR over the forecast period, to reach US$343
million by 2014," says Portela. "With mobile operators competing for 3G
value-added services, near-term mobile capex spending will be driven mainly
by continuous network expansion, capacity increases and upgrades to new
technologies, such as mobile broadband technologies (UMTS/HSPA). Also, if the
regulator allows telecom companies to offer pay-TV services, opportunities in
IPTV may arise with Telecom and Telefonica."

Argentina: Regulators Block Competition in Key Telecom Sectors is part of
Pyramid Research's Latin America Country Intelligence Report Series. Pyramid
Research's premium Country Intelligence Reports are the industry's best
available analysis on market trends, regulatory environments, and competitive
dynamics for 60 countries worldwide. It can be purchased online here
(www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRARGENTINA.htm?sc=PRN011910_CIRARGEN)
or through Amalia Vega via email at avega@pyr.com or telephone at
+1-809-330-4520.

For more information about Pyramid Research's products and services,
please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex
demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology
industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of
emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered
by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries -
a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the
telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid
Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry's
most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology
analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading
online media, research, and focused event company serving the US$3 trillion
worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for
technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the
media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's
research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most
comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis
in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20
targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and
Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as
focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives.
Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and
operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business
technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of
technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most
respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today,
more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in
our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web
2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network,
Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and
The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning
InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street &
Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including
next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and
analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global
provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a
market capitalization of more than US$2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly
connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information
distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization
of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve
professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from
journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated
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information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

    Press contact:
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    +1-617-871-1910
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Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com