Subscriptions In the Honduras Telecom Market Will Surge to 30 Percent by 2014, Pyramid Research Finds

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts - 3G subscriptions in the Honduras telecommunications market will surge to 30 percent by 2014, up from 2 percent today, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Communications Markets in Honduras offers a precise, incisive profile of the country’s converged telecommunications, media, and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in the Honduran market. This 26-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. This executive study provides a holistic view of the Honduran communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term opportunities, and assessing upcoming risks factors. Download an excerpt of this new report here: www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR040809_CIRHON

With a total revenue of US$863 million in 2008, the telecommunications market in Honduras ranks 14th in Latin America and fourth in Central America. However, the market will expand at a CAGR of 4.6 percent over the next five years, the fourth highest expansion rate in the region, notes Jose Magana, analyst at Pyramid Research and co-author of the report.

“The mobile market in Honduras is rapidly expanding from subpar penetration levels seen over the last few years compared with more dynamic markets in Central America,” says Magana. “Mobile penetration, which closed at 87 percent in 2008, will advance to 109 percent at the end of the forecast period. Currently, 3G+ subscriptions account for less than 2 percent of the total base, but Pyramid anticipates they will represent more than 30 percent by 2014,” he adds.

“Claro launched 3G services in early 2008 under the UMTS standard, then launched the iPhone in Q4 2008, also promoting its 3G services such as video calls and mobile Internet,” Magana explains. “Tigo is expected to follow in 2009 using HSDPA, since its operations in Guatemala and El Salvador already enjoy 3G coverage under that standard,” he continues. Tigo enjoys over 70 percent of this voice-centric market, giving the company leeway to deploy advanced networks, paying careful attention to their cash balances as the financial crisis makes financing expansions more costly.

Communications Markets in Honduras 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.

Download an excerpt of this new report here: www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR040809_CIRHON

Communications Markets in Honduras is priced at US$990 and can be purchased online here: pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRHONDURAS.htm?sc=PR040809_CIRHON or through Dave Williams via email at dave.williams@pyr.com or telephone at +1-858-485-8870.

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 events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

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

Source: Pyramid Research

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