Laos Mobile Splitter Indicator

The Laos Mobile Splitter Indicator measures mobile cellular subscriptions divided into postpaid and active prepaid accounts, reflecting mobile penetration and usage patterns in the country.

Overview of the Indicator

The Laos Mobile Splitter Indicator tracks the total number of mobile cellular subscriptions in the country and splits them into two main categories:

• Postpaid subscriptions: Users who pay a fixed monthly fee for mobile services.
• Active prepaid accounts: Users who have used their prepaid mobile accounts within the last three months. This indicator applies to all mobile subscriptions that provide voice communications via cellular technology and excludes data-only subscriptions, USB modems, private trunked radio, paging, and telemetry services .

Current Mobile Penetration

As of 2023, Laos had 64.76 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people, indicating that mobile penetration is moderate and growing steadily. This represents an increase from 63.36 subscriptions per 100 people in 2022 . The indicator reflects both the number of postpaid and active prepaid users, providing insight into the structure of mobile service usage in Laos.

Importance of the Split

The split between postpaid and prepaid accounts is significant because:

• Prepaid accounts dominate in Laos, reflecting affordability and flexibility for users who may not have regular income or credit access.
• Postpaid accounts indicate more stable, long-term mobile usage and are often associated with higher-value services, including mobile internet and data plans. Monitoring this split helps policymakers, telecom operators, and investors understand market trends, user behavior, and network demand, and it can guide decisions on infrastructure investment and service offerings .

Related Indicators

Other related metrics that complement the Mobile Splitter Indicator include:

• Mobile teledensity: Total mobile subscriptions per 100 people, showing overall market penetration .
• Mobile internet performance: Measured by indicators like the nPerf score, which evaluates download/upload speeds, browsing, video streaming, and latency for 4G-compatible devices . By combining the Mobile Splitter Indicator with these metrics, stakeholders can assess both the quantity and quality of mobile services in Laos.