Caribbean Submarine Fiber Optics Report 2007

Pioneer' s 2007 "Caribbean Submarine Fiber Optics" report is a comprehensive study of current trends in this growing regional market.

The report provides profiles of all existing and planned submarine cable systems which serve the Caribbean region and profiles of each island nation with particular focus on submarine fiber optic connectivity and the potential for growth.

Pioneer also uses its proprietary methodology to forecast demand for Internet, Mobile Data, Corporate Data, and Voice connectivity on an island-by-island basis. This analysis builds into a supply-demand balance forecast for the region as a whole to 2017.

To conclude the report, Pioneer takes a step back from its quantitative and qualitative analysis to survey the Caribbean market as a whole and its prospects for the next ten years.

Highlights of the report include:

• The build-out of regional systems to gain access to North America
• The rise of new competitors
• The impact of 2.5G/3G/4G mobile technology
• Exponential growth in broadband users and mobile subscribers
• The emergence of Haiti
• Cuba gets connected
• Bahamas as a strategic hub

Pioneer has a strong track record of forecasting key trends in regional markets. In 2003, at the bottom of the industry cycle, Pioneer' s previous version of this report made a number of predictions for the Caribbean Submarine Fiber Optics market. Some of these predictions seemed incredible at the time but, as the table below shows, fact is often stranger than fiction.

• Prediction:Demand may not be satisfied unless governments address the issue of access infrastructure.
• Outcome:Only 3% of Caribbean Internet users had broadband access in 2003 but by 2007 this figure had risen to 50%.

• Prediction:Investment will return to the submarine sector
• Outcome:2000-2003 only $35M was invested in Caribbean regional cables. 2004-7 $255M was invested.

• Prediction:Numerous niche operators will erode Cable & Wireless' market share as market liberalization permits.
• Outcome:Of the eleven new cables built or planned since 2003, only two were initiated by existing market players.

• Prediction:C&W could respond to increased competition by flooding the market with capacity.
• Outcome:Six of the Caribbean cables in which C&W has an interest have been or are planned to be upgraded since 2003

• Prediction:The likely focus of existing and new competitors will be more regional than "global".
• Outcome:Seven new regional Caribbean systems have been built since 2003 with another four planned.

• Prediction: pan-Caribbean ring with a direct connection to North America may be a more cost-effective connection.
• Outcome:"CFX-1" will connect Columbia to Florida, turning the ARCOS system into a pan-Caribbean figure of eight.

• Prediction:Puerto Rico will maintain its leading role
• Outcome:Nearly a quarter of all existing and planned cables in the Caribbean land in Puerto Rico

For anyone involved in the Caribbean telecom industry, this study is not only an invaluable reference for this fragmented market but it is also the business planner' s trusted guide based on proven quantitative research and analysis of likely market trends.