Budapest Business Journal 24/07

Report 3Special

BBJ

SPECIAL REPORT:

Telecoms

Local firms putting

‘things’ online

 14

Free Wi-Fi hotspots

multiplying

 20

TELECOMS

Upward trend

BUSINESS JOURNAL at the . This section looks for Hungarian telecoms s in the sector. been a good one ing specific successe The past year has while also highlight industry as a whole

BUDAPEST

VOL. 24. NUMBER 07

HUF 1,250  | €5 | $6 | £3.5

APRIL 8, 2016 – APRIL 21, 2016

HUNGARY’S PRACTICAL BUSINESS BI-WEEKLY SINCE 1992 | WWW.BBJ.HU

Just keep them happy

NEWS

Hungary posts best deficit figures ever The government deficit was at 1.9% of GDP, according to reports, but Eurostat’s questions about how this figure is calculated could potentially dampen the Economy Ministry’s victory celebration. 3

SPECIAL REPORT

Free Wi-Fi spreads across the land Between the efforts of the government and the country’s private telecoms, Hungary should soon have more than half a million hotspots providing free Wi-Fi to an eager audience. 20

BUSINESS

Photo: Mátyás Pödőr

Budapest’s biggest office deal in years When HB Reavis sold Váci Corner Offices to Zeus Capital Management for roughly €55 million, it was yet another sign of a real estate investment market regaining the ground it lost in 2008. 9

Alexandre Froment-Curtil, Vodafone Hungary’s consumer business chief, stresses the importance of customer perceptions. 19 SPECIAL REPORT

BBJ_2407_news.indd 1

FOCUS

SPECIAL REPORT

Smaller players help keep Hungary online

A weekend of the lush life in the countryside

A year of healthy growth for telecoms

Telecoms are not all multinationals: Hundreds of local SMEs serve various parts of Hungary with broadband connections. These firms fill a profitable market niche while providing a vital service. 18

Beautiful old villas boast five-star service, some of the country’s finest gastronomy, and pampering wellness treatments. We offer some suggestions for those who want to spend a couple of days like landed gentry. 23

The number of phone subscriptions was up in 2015, and the reach of the 4G networks expanded, as the sector enjoyed increased business. The trend is seen as justification for continued investment in infrastructure. 12

2016. 04. 06. 21:26