Market Report, "Iraq Telecommunications Report Q4 2015", published

The resilience of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq continues to pose serious challenges to operators in the country, resulting in elevated operating costs, large subscriptions losses and falling revenues in the first quarter of 2015. While BMI expects it will take at least 18 months to overcome the present security risks, Iraq remains a fundamentally attractive market, owing to a large population, a mobile penetration rate below 90% as of March 2015, and the recent allocation of 3G licences and launch of mobile data services at the beginning of the year. The latter, in particular, will enable operators to expand a rich portfolio of non-voice value added services, which have been tried and tested in neighbouring markets, to Iraqi consumers for the first time.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/1058398_iraq_telecommunications.aspx?afid=301

Key Data

The mobile market contracted by 3.8% and mobile revenues declined in Q115 as the security situation continues to take its toll.

ARPUs continued their downward trajectory, reaching a market average of USD8.0 in Q115. Take up of 3G services throughout 2015 may help to stabilise ARPUs over the coming quarters.

Iraq's fixed-line and broadband penetration rates remained low at 5.6% and 1.6% respectively at the end of 2014. 3G will drive access to affordable broadband connectivity over the coming years.

Risk/Reward Ratings

As internal conflict continues to impact on subscriptions and revenues in Iraq's mobile market, the country dropped from 7th to 9th place on this quarter's MENA Telecoms Risk/Reward Index, with a score of 47.8, compared with 50.9 last quarter. Although we expect the launch of 3G to present strong growth opportunities in the non-voice services segment and BMI's Country Risk team forecasts accelerating GDP growth over 2015 and 2016, this comes from a low base, and IS' strength in the north-west of the country will continue to pose severe operating challenges for operators over the coming quarters.

The Iraq Telecommunications Report features BMI Research's independent industry forecasts on the future strength of Iraq's ICT market, covering the fixed-line, mobile and internet segments and analyses latest regulatory developments and corporate news, including investment activity, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. Leading operators and manufacturers are fully profiled, highlighting their quarterly financial performance, capital expenditure plans and latest contracts.

BMI's Iraq Telecommunications Report provides industry professionals and researchers, operators, equipment suppliers and vendors, corporate and financial services analysts and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the telecoms industry in Iraq.

Key Benefits

* Benchmark BMI's independent telecoms industry forecasts for Iraq

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