Synopsis
At close to 90% penetration, subscriber growth in Algeria’s mobile market has begun to flatten, and the attention is shifting to maintaining or improving the average revenue per user (ARPU) which has continued to decline under intensifying price competition between the three networks: Algerie Telecom’s Mobilis, Orascom’s Djezzy, and Wataniya’s Nedjma. The operators have entered the underdeveloped Internet market by launching basic mobile data services, but the licensing of third generation (3G) spectrum is being delayed, which makes it difficult for them to fully compete in the broadband sector.
The market has been affected by the global economic crisis, and its recovery will depend on a combination of regulatory and economic factors, as well as choice of business models. Should the mobile networks succeed in ending their price war and transforming themselves into converged service providers, absorbing much of the broadband Internet market on top of the mobile voice market, the market still has enormous potential.
This report contains an overview of Algeria’s mobile market, analysis and key statistics, profiles of the major players, and scenario forecasts for 2012 and 2015.