This section benchmarks the level of competition in key sectors, worldwide and by region. The analysis compares the level of competition in:
View a summary table of benchmarking data here. This analysis uses data provided by the ITU.
Worldwide Comparison by Sector
The trend towards liberalization is evident in the data. Over 60 percent of the 184 economies for which data are available have either full or partial competition in the sectors analysed here. Competition in mobile and Internet services is extremely common — 90 percent of countries have either partial or full competition in the mobile sector, and 93 percent in the Internet services sector.
However, in many countries the provision of fixed services is still a monopoly. Between 35 and 38 percent of countries have monopolies in the provision of international, domestic long distance and local call services.
Figure 1: Competition by Sector Worldwide
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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Local Service
Monopoly provision of local service is still prevalent, particularly in Africa and the Arab States, where 41 and 52 percent of countries respectively have a monopoly local service provider.
The data show significant competition in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), where 87 percent of countries report full or partial competition in local service. This reflects the significant impact of the European Union’s competition policy and telecommunications requirements.
Figure 2: Competition in the Local Services Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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Domestic Long Distance
The picture for domestic long distance is very similar to the local service sector. Approximately 40 percent of African countries in the sample and 50 percent of Arab States have a monopoly in the provision of domestic long distance services. Approximately 80 percent of countries in Europe and the CIS, and two-thirds of countries in the Americas, report full or partial competition in this sector.
Figure 3: Competition in the Domestic Long Distance Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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International Long Distance
Competition is more widespread in most regions in the international long distance sector than in the local and domestic long distance sectors. In Africa and the Asia Pacific region respectively, 60 and 61 percent of countries have introduced full or partial competition for international calls. In the Americas 71 percent of countries have introduced competition, and in Europe and the CIS 85 percent of countries have full or partial competition in this sector. The Arab States show a high level of monopolization in this sector compared to other regions (52 percent of Arab States report a monopoly).
Figure 4: Competition in the International Long Distance Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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Mobile
All regions show a high degree of liberalization in the mobile sector. Across the regions surveyed, between 78 and 96 percent of countries have introduced full or partial competition in the mobile sector. Competition is most widespread in Europe and the CIS and Africa (with competition in 96 percent and 93 percent of countries respectively).
Figure 5: Competition in the Mobile Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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Internet Services
Unsurprisingly, the Internet services sector is by far the most competitive of the sectors surveyed. Only 12 of the 184 countries in the sample have not introduced competition in this sector. Over 90 percent of countries in Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region, and all of Europe and the CIS have either full or partial competition in the Internet services sector. Over 80 percent of Arab States have introduced competition.
Figure 6: Competition in the Internet Services Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
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Leased Lines
Leased lines show a similar pattern to the local, domestic long distance and international sectors discussed above. In most regions, the majority of countries have introduced some degree of competition. Over half (57 percent) of the Arab States have either full or partial competition in the provision of leased lines. Again a large majority (87 percent) of countries in Europe and the CIS have introduced full competition.
Figure 7: Competition in the Leased Lines Sector
Key: M = Monopoly, D = Duopoly, P = Partial Competition, C = Full Competition
Source: ITU World Telecommunications Indicators Database, 2009. The most up-to-date information can be found on the ICT Eye at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Default.aspx.
RELATED Materials
Module 2, section 2.2.2., Comparison Table: Competition by Sector and Region