Telecoms & IT

With an overall population density of only two people per square mile, and 40% of the nation living nomadically, providing 3G services has been more challenging than in other countries. However, as of December 2012, 3G services became available in all provinces. With 27% of the population under the age of 15 and a GDP that grew 15.7% per capita in 2011, the number of 3G users is expected to increase in the years to come. Debate is ongoing over which technology will prevail, however, with 4G demand expected to be highest in Ulaanbaatar and other large cities. Prospects for the telecoms sector are generally good. Also promising is the IT sector, thanks to a new corridor and fibre-optic networks. At the end of December 2012, the nation was ranked ahead of other players in the region, such as China and Indonesia, in terms of download speeds. The country is quickly becoming wealthy, benefitting from the fact that the market is relatively open and free. More competitive operators are expected to meet the market’s needs. Crucial to development will be how the government manages its dealings with the private sector. Companies must also ensure that employees are well-trained and qualified to work with rapidly evolving technology. This chapter contains a roundtable with B. Byambasaikhan, Chairman, Mobicom; D. Bolor, CEO, Skytel; and R. Granbold, CEO, Unitel.