This market report provides a comprehensive overview of the mobile network operator and MVNO telecom market across the various economies of Asia. The list of operators ranges from the giant China Mobile with more than 850 million subscribers right through to a number of much smaller operators with only a few thousand subscribers each. And of course there are the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).

The focus of this report is on the operators within their individual national markets. In addition to these individual operators there are those companies such as SingTel, Vodafone, and Axiata (formerly Telekom Malaysia International) that have built a substantial presence around the Asian region beyond their own domestic market through their shareholdings in operators in multiple other markets. While this aspect of the regional operations is not discussed in any detail, it is mentioned in passing in the relevant country reviews.

1. REGION OVERVIEW ...........1

1.1 Market Trends .................1

1.2 Statistics ...........................2

1.2.1 Top Asian Countries by Mobile Subscribers

1.2.1.1 China

1.2.1.2 India

1.2.2 Top Asian Countries by Mobile Penetration

1.2.3 Top Asian Mobile Operators by Subscribers

1.2.3.1 China

1.2.3.2 India

1.2.3.3 Indonesia and Thailand

2. AFGHANISTAN ....................8

2.1 Operator statistics ............8

2.2 Mobile operators overview ..............................8

2.3 Afghan Wireless (AWCC) ...............................9

2.3.1 Background

2.3.2 Statistics

2.3.3 Developments

2.4 Roshan ...........................10

2.4.1 Overview

2.4.2 Statistics

2.4.3 Background

2.5 MTN Afghanistan .........12

2.5.1 Overview

2.5.2 Statistics

2.5.3 Developments

2.6 Etisalat Afghanistan .....14

2.6.1 Overview

2.6.2 Statistics

2.6.3 Developments

2.7 Salam Telecom (Aftel)...15

3. ARMENIA 16

3.1 Operator Statistics .........16

3.2 ArmenTel (Beeline) .......16

3.2.1 Overview

3.2.2 Background

3.2.3 Operational statistics

3.2.4 Financials

3.2.5 Business development

3.3 VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom) ..........................18

3.3.1 Overview

3.3.2 Licensing

3.3.3 Service launch

3.3.4 Operational statistics

3.3.5 Development

3.3.6 4G / LTE

3.4 Orange Armenia ............21

3.4.1 Overview

3.4.2 Licensing

3.4.3 Service launch

3.4.4 Operational statistics

3.4.5 Business development

3.5 Ucom ..24

3.5.1 Overview

3.5.2 Completion of acquisition and merger of Orange Armenia

3.5.3 4G / LTE

4. AZERBAIJAN ......................26

4.1 Operator Statistics .........26

4.2 Azercell ..........................26

4.2.1 Overview

4.2.2 Developments

4.2.3 Background

4.3 Bakcell ...........................28

4.3.1 Overview

4.3.2 Background

4.4 Azerfon (Nar Mobile) ....30

4.4.1 Overview

4.4.2 Corporate structure

4.4.3 Background

4.5 Catel ...33

4.6 Delta Telecom ................33

5. BANGLADESH ....................34

5.1 Operator Statistics .........34

5.2 CityCell (PBTL) .............34

5.3 GrameenPhone ..............35

5.3.1 Overview

5.3.2 3G and 4G Network Rollouts

5.4 Banglalink .....................37

5.5 Robi Axiata ....................38

5.6 Teletalk ..........................39

5.7 Airtel Bangladesh ..........40

5.7.1 Overview

6. BHUTAN ..41

6.1 Operator Statistics .........41

6.2 B-Mobile ........................41

6.3 Tashi InfoComm (Tashicell) .........................43

7. BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ....45

7.1 Operator Statistics .........45

7.2 DSTCom ........................45

7.3 Progresif Cellular (formerly B-Mobile) .......46

7.3.1 Operational and financial problems - background

8. CAMBODIA .........................49

8.1 Operator statistics ..........49

8.2 MobiTel (CamGSM) .....49

8.2.1 Overview

8.2.2 Statistics

8.3 Mfone (CamShin) .........51

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Statistics

8.3.3 Uncertainty followed by Bankruptcy

8.4 Smart Axiata (formerly Hello Axiata) ..........54

8.5 AZ Communications .....55

8.6 Metfone (Viettel) ...........56

8.7 CadComms (QB) ...........56

8.8 GT-Tell (Excell) ............57

8.9 Smart Mobile (Latelz) ...58

8.10 Applifone (Star Cell)..59

8.11 Beeline Cambodia (Sotelco) ......................60

8.12 CooTel (Xinwei) .........61

9. CHINA ......63

9.1 Operator statistics ..........63

9.2 China Mobile Ltd (CML) ..............................64

9.2.1 Company overview

9.2.2 China Mobile: Financial statistics

9.2.3 China Mobile: Operations statistics

9.3 China Telecom ..............67

9.4 China Unicom ...............68

9.5 MVNOs ..........................69

10. GEORGIA .........................71

10.1 Mobile operators overview ........................71

10.2 Geocell .......................71

10.3 MagtiCom ..................73

10.4 Mobitel (Beeline) .......74

11. HONG KONG ...................76

11.1 Operator statistics ......76

11.2 PCCW/Hong Kong Telecom / CSL ...........76

11.3 Hutchison Telekom Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH) .........77

11.4 SmarTone ...................79

11.4.1 Company overview

11.4.2 Company background

11.4.3 Financial statistics

11.4.4 Operational statistics

11.5 China Mobile Hong Kong .........................81

11.6 Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) ..........................82

12. INDIA ....83

12.1 Three way Merger of SSTL, RCOM, Aircel .........................83

12.1.1 Introduction

12.1.2 RCOM / Aircel Merger

12.1.3 RCOM / SSTL Merger

12.2 Aircel ..........................83

12.3 Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) .........84

12.3.1 Overview

12.3.2 Network development

12.3.3 3G development

12.3.4 4G/LTE

12.4 Bharti Airtel ...............86

12.4.1 Overview

12.4.2 3G development

12.4.3 4G / LTE

12.5 Idea Cellular ..............89

12.5.1 Overview

12.5.2 3G

12.5.3 4G / LTE

12.6 Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) .................91

12.7 Quadrant ....................92

12.8 Reliance Communications ........................93

12.9 Reliance Jio Infocomm .............................94

12.9.1 Overview

12.9.2 4G Network

12.10 SSTL (Sistema) ..........95

12.11 Tata Teleservices .......96

12.12 Telenor .......................98

12.13 Vodafone ....................99

12.13.1 Overview

12.13.2 3G

12.13.3 4G Network

12.14 Fixed-line business ..101

12.15 Reach mobile ...........102

12.16 MVNOs ....................102

13. INDONESIA ...................103

13.1 Operator Statistics ...103

13.2 XL Axiata .................104

13.2.1 Overview

13.2.2 Developments

13.2.3 Operational statistics

13.2.4 Business and network strategies

13.2.4.1 Overview

13.2.4.2 Third Generation (3G) services

13.2.4.3 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

13.3 PT Telkomsel ...........106

13.3.1 Overview

13.3.2 Mobile statistics

13.3.2.1 Third Generation (3G) services

13.3.2.2 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

13.4 Indosat Ooredoo ......109

13.4.1 Overview

13.4.2 Financials

13.4.3 Mobile and fixed Wireless statistics

13.4.4 3G Network

13.4.5 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

13.5 PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia ......................112

13.6 WLL Operators ........113

13.6.1 PT Telkom

13.6.2 PT Indosat

13.6.3 Bakrie Telecom

13.7 PT SmartFren Telecom (SmartFren) .....114

13.8 PT Bakrie Telecom (BTEL) ....................114

13.9 Sampoerna Telekomunikasi Indonesia (STI) / Ceria ........116

13.10 Internux (Bolt!) .......116

14. JAPAN 117

14.1 Operator statistics ....117

14.2 NTT DoCoMo ..........117

14.2.1 Company overview

14.2.2 Financial statistics

14.2.3 ARPU statistics

14.2.4 Operational statistics

14.2.5 International investments

14.3 KDDI ........................121

14.4 Softbank Mobile ......122

14.4.1 Financial and Operational statistics

14.5 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) ......................124

15. KAZAKHSTAN ...............125

15.1 Operator statistics ....125

15.2 Kar-Tel (Beeline) .....126

15.2.1 4G LTE Network Rollout

15.3 K’Cell (GSM-Kazakhstan) ......................128

15.4 Kar-Tel (Beeline) / Altel ..........................129

15.4.1 Merger

15.4.2 Altel

15.4.3 Tele 2 Kazakhstan

16. KYRGYZSTAN ...............133

16.1 MegaCom (BiMoCom Ltd)......................133

16.1.1 Ownership issues

16.2 Sky Mobile (Beeline) ...............................134

16.2.1 Ownership dispute

16.3 Zheti Mobile / Aktel .137

16.3.1 Aktel (Fonex) - background

16.4 Nur Telecom (O!) ....137

16.5 Katel .........................138

16.6 KT Mobile ................138

17. LAOS ...140

17.1 Operator statistics ....140

17.2 ETL ..........................140

17.3 Beeline .....................141

17.3.1 Mobile operations

17.4 Unitel ........................142

17.5 Sky Telecom .............143

18. MACAU ...........................144

18.1 Compahnia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CTM) .........144

18.1.1 Overview

18.1.2 Background

18.1.3 Mobile

18.1.4 Operational statistics

18.2 MTel .........................145

18.3 3 Macau (Hutchison Telecom Macau) ...145

18.4 SmarTone Mobile Communications (Macau) Ltd .............146

18.5 China Telecom .........147

19. MALAYSIA .....................148

19.1 Operator statistics ....148

19.2 Celcom Axiata ..........148

19.3 Maxis Communications...........................150

19.3.1 LTE / 4G

19.4 Digi Communications ..............................152

19.4.1 Overview

19.4.2 Operating statistics

19.4.3 4G / LTE

19.5 U Mobile ..................153

19.6 MVNOs ....................154

20. MALDIVES ....................156

20.1 Dhiraagu (DhiMobile).............................156

20.2 Ooredoo Maldives (formerly Wataniya Telecom) ..............157

21. MONGOLIA ...................159

21.1 Operator Statistics ...159

21.2 MobiCom .................159

21.3 SkyTel.......................159

21.4 Unitel ........................160

21.5 G-Mobile ..................161

22. MYANMAR .....................162

22.1 Operator statistics ....162

22.1.1 Potential Fourth Operator

22.2 Myanmar P&T (MPT) .............................162

22.3 Ooredoo ....................164

22.3.1 Overview

22.3.2 Financials

22.3.3 4G Network

22.4 Telenor .....................165

22.4.1 Overview

22.4.2 Service launch and expansion

22.4.3 4G Network

22.4.4 Financials

23. NEPAL 168

23.1 Operator statistics ....168

23.2 Nepal Telecom (NT) 168

23.3 Ncell .........................170

24. NORTH KOREA .............173

24.1 Sunnet ......................173

24.2 Koryolink .................173

24.3 Byol ..........................175

25. PAKISTAN ......................176

25.1 Operator statistics ....176

25.1.1 Pending Merger - Mobilink and Warid Telecom

25.2 Mobilink (PMCL) ....177

25.2.1 Overview

25.2.2 Statistics

25.2.3 Third Generation (3G)

25.3 Warid Telecom .........179

25.3.1 Overview

25.3.2 Statistics

25.3.3 Fourth Generation (4G) / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

25.4 Ufone (PTCL) ..........181

25.4.1 Overview

25.4.2 Third Generation (3G)

25.5 Telenor Pakistan ......182

25.5.1 Overview

25.5.2 Third Generation (3G) licence

25.5.3 4G Network

25.6 Zong .........................185

25.6.1 Overview

25.6.2 Statistics

25.6.3 3G and 4G networks

25.7 Instaphone (Pakcom) ..............................187

25.8 MVNOs ....................187

26. PHILIPPINES ................188

26.1 Operator statistics ....188

26.2 Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) ...189

26.2.1 Mobile Developments

26.2.2 Operational statistics

26.3 Globe Telecom .........191

26.3.1 Overview

26.3.2 Mobile developments

26.3.3 Operational statistics

26.3.3.1 3G/4G services

26.4 NOW Telecom (Next Mobile) ..................193

26.5 BellTel ......................193

27. SINGAPORE ..................194

27.1 Operator statistics ....194

27.2 Singapore Telecom (SingTel) ..................195

27.2.1 Overview

27.2.2 Corporate structure and subsidiaries

27.2.3 Statistics

27.2.3.1 Singapore

27.2.4 3G Service

27.2.5 4G / Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

27.2.6 Development of products and services

27.3 StarHub ....................199

27.3.1 Overview

27.3.2 Financials

27.3.3 Operational statistics

27.3.4 Network developments

27.3.4.1 Femtocell service

27.3.4.2 High-speed packet access (HSPA)

27.3.4.3 SDN Network Upgrade

27.3.4.4 LampSite Indoor Coverage Service

27.3.5 Fourth Generation (4G) / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

27.3.6 Fifth Generation (5G) Trials

27.4 MobileOne (M1) ......203

27.4.1 Overview

27.4.2 Recent Developments

27.4.3 Operating statistics

27.4.4 Financials

27.4.5 Network development

27.4.5.1 3G upgrades

27.4.5.2 High-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)

27.4.5.3 Fourth Generation (4G) / Long Term Evolution (LTE)

27.5 MyRepublic - Potential Fourth Mobile Operator ...............206

28. SOUTH KOREA .............207

28.1 Operator statistics ....207

28.2 KT Corp....................208

28.3 SK Telecom ..............209

28.3.1 Overview

28.3.2 Next Generation Growth Strategy

28.3.3 SK Planet

28.4 LG U+ ......................212

28.5 MVNOs ....................214

29. SRI LANKA ....................215

29.1 Operator statistics ....215

29.2 Dialog Axiata (formerly Dialog Telekom) ..........................215

29.3 Mobitel .....................217

29.4 Etisalat Sri Lanka ....218

29.5 Hutchison Lanka .....219

29.6 Bharti Airtel Lanka .219

30. TAIWAN .........................221

30.1 Operator statistics ....221

30.2 Far EasTone Telecommunications Group .........................221

30.3 Taiwan Mobile .........223

30.1 Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd (CHT) .........224

30.2 Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) ....................226

30.3 VIBO Telecom .........227

30.4 Ambit ........................227

30.5 Star Cellular ............228

31. TAJIKISTAN ..................229

31.1 Operator Statistics ...229

31.2 Babilon Mobile ........229

31.3 Tcell (Indigo-Somoncom) .......................230

31.3.1 Indigo Tajikistan

31.3.2 Somoncom

31.4 Tacom / Beeline .......231

31.5 TK Mobile ................232

31.6 MegaFon ..................232

31.7 M-Teko .....................233

31.8 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service ...........233

32. THAILAND ....................234

32.1 Operator statistics ....234

32.2 Advanced Info Service (AIS)...................234

32.2.1 Overview

32.2.4 4G LTE strategy

32.3 DTAC .......................237

32.3.1 Overview

32.3.2 Statistics

32.3.3 3G strategy

32.3.4 4G strategy

32.4 TrueMove .................239

32.4.1 Overview

32.4.2 Statistics

32.4.3 3G/4G strategies

32.5 Telephone Organization of Thailand Corp (TOT) .............241

32.6 Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) .................242

32.7 TT&T .......................243

32.8 Jas Mobile ................244

32.9 MVNOs ....................244

32.9.1 Loxley’s MVNO service

32.9.2 AirAsia

32.9.3 I-Mobile Plus

32.9.4 365 Communications

32.9.5 NTT

32.9.5.1 TOT

33. TIMOR LESTE ...............246

33.1 Operator statistics ....246

33.2 Timor Telecom .........246

33.3 Telin (Telkomcel) ....247

33.4 Telemor ....................248

34. TURKMENISTAN ..........249

34.1 Operator Statistics ...249

34.2 MTS-Turkmenistan (formerly Barash Communications Technologies (BCT)) 249

34.3 TM Cell (Altyn Asyr) ...............................250

34.4 Asgabat Saher Telefon Ulgamy (ASTU) (New Operator) ..251

35. UZBEKISTAN ................252

35.1 Operator Statistics ...252

35.2 MTS-Uzbekistan / Universal Mobile Systems (UMS) ........252

35.2.1 Overview

35.2.2 Operational statistics

35.2.3 Universal Mobile Systems (UMS)/ MTS Uzbekistan

35.3 Beeline (Unitel) ........254

35.3.1 Overview

35.3.2 Operational statistics

35.4 UCell (Coscom) ........257

35.4.1 Overview

35.4.2 Operational statistics

35.4.3 4G/LTE

35.4.4 TeliaSonera/Vimpelcom’s bribery scandal

35.5 UzMobile (Uzbektelecom Mobile) ...........260

35.5.1 Overview

35.5.2 Proposed GSM network

35.6 Other mobile operators ............................261

35.6.1 Uzmacom

35.6.2 Buztel

35.6.3 Perfectum Mobile

36. VIETNAM .......................263

36.1 Overview ...................263

36.2 Operator statistics ....263

36.3 International ............264

36.4 VNPT .......................265

36.4.1 Overview

36.4.2 Restructure

36.5 MobiFone .................266

36.5.1 Overview

36.5.2 Proposed IPO

36.5.3 Development of 3G

36.5.4 Preparing for 4G

36.6 VNPT-Vinaphone ....267

36.6.1 Overview

36.6.2 Development of 3G

36.6.3 Preparing for 4G

36.7 Viettel .......................269

36.7.1 Overview

36.7.2 Development of 3G

36.7.3 Preparing for 4G

36.7.4 International business

36.8 Vietnamobile (formerly Hutchison Vietnam/HT Mobile) ..271

36.8.1 Overview

36.8.2 Transition from CDMA to GSM

36.8.3 Operational statistics

36.9 Gmobile (formerly Beeline) .....................272

36.9.1 Vimpelcom’s exit

36.10 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) ....................273