Telecommunications in Guyana A Comprehensive Market Report

Guyana's telecommunications market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with the number of mobile subscribers increasing from 1.3 million in 2017 to over 2.5 million in 2022.

The country's mobile penetration rate has also risen steadily, reaching 93.3% in 2022.

Guyana's internet penetration rate has been lower, but it's still growing rapidly, reaching 34.4% in 2022.

The country's main telecommunications service providers are Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) and Digicel, which offer a range of mobile and internet services to customers.

Guyana has various communications cables for international connections. The Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System (SGSCS) and the Americas IIfiber opticsubmarine communications cable provide links to Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, the United States, and other countries.

These cables have terrestrial extensions to Suriname and Guyana, ensuring reliable international connectivity. The X-Link Submarine Cable, installed in 2019, connects Guyana to Barbados.

Guyana's infrastructure also includes an overland Brazil to Guyana Fibre Optic Cable, built in 2011, although it has been abandoned due to extensive damage.

Here's a summary of Guyana's international connectivity:

Guyana's internet landscape is shaped by its top-level domain, .gy, which is used by 276,498 internet users, ranking 168th in the world and representing 37.33% of the population (2018).

The country has a relatively small number of fixed broadband subscribers, with 64,889 subscribers in 2017, ranking 129th in the world.

Internet hosts in Guyana number 24,936, placing 112th in the world (2012).

The government has made licensing exemptions for small ISPs in 2021 to encourage private-sector telecommunications development.

Three major ISPs operate in Guyana: GTT, Digicel, and E-Networks.

The government does not restrict access to the internet, and there are no credible reports of the government monitoring email or internet chat rooms without judicial oversight.

The Guyana telecom market has witnessed strong growth in recent years and is expected to continue growing over the forecast period to 2025.

By 2029, the majority of mobile connections in Guyana are expected to be on 5G, driven by increasing population, communication service, and rising adoption of smartphone services. This shift towards 5G will enable new services and applications, such as autonomous cars and enhanced customer experiences.

The growth in the industry is also driven by the increasing adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) in the sector, which connects with wired and wireless broadband. This trend is expected to continue over the forecast period, with hundreds of millions of fixed broadband connections anticipated by 2025.

The Guyana Telecom Market has witnessed strong growth in recent years and is expected to continue growing over the forecast period to 2025. This growth is mainly due to increasing urban population and the rising adoption of mobile phones that support 3G, 4G, and 5G services.

Some 2G networks have already been closed, and it's expected that all major 2G/3G platforms will be shut down by the end of 2025. By 2029, the majority of mobile connections will be on 5G.

The government has published definitive wireline voice and broadband subscription data for 2017, showing a significant difference between fixed broadband connections and wireline voice connections. By 2025, hundreds of millions of fixed broadband connections are expected, compared to tens of millions of wireline voice connections.

Mobile will be the principal form of connection in Guyana by 2025, driven by the growth in the industry.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a surprisingly minimal impact on the Guyana telecom industry, with the sector planning to delay upcoming spectrum auctions due to the pandemic.

Business hours broadband consumption increased significantly in March 2020 as the country adjusted to life under lockdown.

The telecom sector witnessed growth in weekday viewership, with movie rentals and purchases on the rise.

Live viewing increased by 15% during the week as more people stayed at home, while free video-on-demand saw a 25% boost.

Sports viewing took a hit due to event delays, but this was offset by a surge in News and Kids viewers.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a surprisingly minimal impact on the Guyana telecom industry, although the sector did plan to delay its upcoming spectrum auctions due to the pandemic.

Business hours broadband consumption increased significantly in March 2020 as the country adjusted to life with Covid-19.

Weekday viewership saw a notable growth, with movie rentals and purchases on the rise.

Live viewing increased by 15% and free video-on-demand by 25% during the week as more people stayed at home.

However, sports viewing took a hit due to events being put on hold or delayed.

An increase in News and Kids viewers helped to complement the decline in sports viewing.

Financial values in the chart are available after the report is purchased.

The investment scenario in Guyana's telecom market is a bit complicated. Capital expenditure on infrastructure decreased due to slowed network deployments to ensure engineers' health and safety during the pandemic.

Regulatory involvement has increased, but it's not driven by market or consumer needs. Instead, it's determined by political opportunists.

This increased regulatory involvement is likely to hamper existing and new investors' activities in the market.

A different take: List of Telecommunications Regulatory Bodies

When evaluating a company's performance, it's essential to consider its financial health.

Financial values such as revenue and profits are crucial indicators of a company's success.

Unfortunately, detailed financial information is not always publicly available, and some data may require a report purchase to access.

Investors often rely on charts to visualize a company's performance, but these charts may only provide a general overview of the company's financial situation.

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GTT, a major player in Guyana's telecommunications market, has a significant competitor in Digicel, a Jamaican-based company headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica.

Digicel has been a major force in the market, but Guyana's only locally owned telecommunications network, Enet, has recently brought some much-needed competition to the table.

The arrival of Enet has undoubtedly shaken things up in the market, giving consumers more options and potentially driving prices down.

The company's main offices are located in Georgetown, Guyana, which serves as the hub for its operations.

The corporate headquarters campus is divided into several buildings, each housing a specific function. The Telephone House houses the commercial headquarters, customer service call centers, and the operator service center.

The Executive Suite, with its own entrance, parking, and security, is where key employees and executives have their office space.

The Human Resources offices are located in a separate building, which helps maintain a clear distinction between roles.

The Residential Service Unit houses the residential and government services offices, as well as the collections office.

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GTT's main competitor is Digicel, a Jamaican-based company headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica. Digicel has been a significant player in the market for a while.

Enet, Guyana's only locally owned telecommunications network, has brought competition to the market, shaking things up for GTT.

Guyana has a rich history of broadcasting, with the first television station established in 1988. This was made possible with the use of a transmitter obtained from Canada.

Many households in Guyana were already watching TV programs from the US, thanks to "pirate re-transmitting stations" and receiving dishes. This was a common practice in the 70s and 80s, reflecting the country's colonial past.

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) regulates broadcasting in the country, established by the Broadcasting Act of 2011. This body oversees the broadcasting industry to ensure compliance with regulations.

Some of the key broadcasting companies in Guyana include:

The Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 aimed to guarantee a certain amount of broadcast hours for government public service announcements, but this move was met with criticism for potentially threatening free speech.