Timor Telecom - Timor-Leste

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Timor Telecom
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Timor-Leste Flag of Timor-Leste View country details


Timor Telecom (Timor-Leste) uses 1 GSM band. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Timor Telecom (Timor-Leste). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: http://www.timortelecom.tl/

Timor Telecom (TT) is the primary mobile network operator in Timor-Leste (East Timor). Here are some key points about the company and its mobile network:

  1. History and Infrastructure:

    • Timor Telecom was formed in 2002 after the telecommunications infrastructure in East Timor was destroyed in 1999. The company was awarded a concession agreement to rebuild and operate the telecommunications system under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
    • The company has expanded its network significantly, providing services in various districts, including Dili, Lospalos, Baucau, Oecusse, and more.

  2. Market Coverage and Monopoly:

    • Initially, Timor Telecom held a monopoly on telecommunications in East Timor for 15 years, ending in 2012. This monopoly was lifted in response to public opinion and international trends towards liberalization.
    • Despite the liberalization, Timor Telecom remains a major player in the market, providing extensive coverage across the country. The three main telcos—Timor Telecom, Telkomcel, and Telemor—jointly provide 98% national coverage with their mobile infrastructure.

  3. Mobile Services and LTE:

    • Timor Telecom launched LTE services in 2019, contributing to a rapid increase in mobile broadband penetration. The mobile broadband market is still at an early stage of development but is expected to experience strong growth over the next five years.
    • The company offers a range of mobile services, including voice, data, and internet access. Mobile services are crucial for the majority of the population, given the limited fixed-line infrastructure.

  4. Regulatory Environment:

    • The telecommunications sector in Timor-Leste is regulated by the Autoridade Reguladora das Comunicacoes (ARCOM) and the Autoridade Nacional de CommunicaAAes (ANC).
    • The government has set up the Timor Digital 2032 program to develop digital services and the ICT sector, which includes enhancing the capabilities of telecom services through international connectivity.

  5. Future Developments:

    • The country is expected to be connected to the submarine cable linking to Australia via the North Western Cable System (NWCS), which will enhance the capability of telecom services. However, bureaucratic delays and indecisiveness by the government may delay this connectivity.
    • Telemor, one of the other major operators, aims to launch a 5G service once the necessary bandwidth is available, which is expected to be provided by the submarine cable connection.

Overall, Timor Telecom plays a significant role in providing mobile services to the people of Timor-Leste, and its efforts are crucial for the country's digital development and economic growth.

Frequency Bands

GSM

Name Interface Description
900 MHz (E-GSM) GSM

Timor Telecom in Timor-Leste uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. This deployment was initiated in 2003, shortly after the country's independence.

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