Executive summary
One of Africa’s most developed telecom and digital media markets
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Mauritius’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:
- Key statistics;
- Market and industry overviews;
- The impact of the global economic crisis;
- Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
- Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
- Telecoms operators – privatisation, acquisitions, new licences;
- Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
- Infrastructure development, including FttC, FttC;
- Mobile voice and data markets;
- Internet and broadband development, including IPTV, triple play;
- Broadband pricing trends, including 3G mobile;
- Digital media (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).
The island nation of Mauritius sports some of the best telecommunication market indicators in Africa and has been the first with many innovations: Africa’s first cellular system was launched here in 1989, the first commercial 3G mobile service in 2004, the world’s first nationwide WiMAX wireless broadband network in 2005, and one of Africa’s first IPTV services in 2006.
With strong tourism and financial services sectors, Mauritius’s economy has been hit harder by the global economic crisis than many other African countries. However, IMF forecasts predict that after a dip to around 1.5%, annual GDP growth will return to levels between 4% and 5% again in 2010/11.
The incumbent telco, Mauritius Telecom has been partially privatised and all sectors of the market are open to competition. Served by a modern, digital fixed-line network, two fibre optic submarine cables for international connectivity, three mobile networks, various broadband and other service providers, Mauritius is successfully pursuing a policy to make telecommunications the fifth pillar of its economy and to become a regional telecom hub with Singapore as a role model.
At more than 90% penetration, the mobile market is approaching saturation. Two GSM-based networks – Orange (Mauritius Telecom in partnership with France Telecom) and Emtel, operated by Millicom International – are competing with a CDMA2000 service operated by Mahanagar, which is also the country’s second fixed-line operator.
The highest growth rates are currently seen in the broadband sector, where HSPA and EV-DO based 3G mobile services are competing with fixed-line DSL and other wireless broadband offerings, including WiMAX. FttC and FttH rollouts are in progress which has already brought 100Mb/s connections to businesses, with nearly nationwide coverage planned for 2015. The landing of a second international submarine fibre optic cable has brought prices down further in a broadband market that was already one of Africa’s most developed.
Initiated in early 2011, the investigation of possible anti-competitive behaviour by Mauritius Telecom in the DSL and IPTV sector has the potential to shake up not only the broadband access market but also the market for digital media and entertainment.
Market highlights:
- One of the highest levels of market penetration in Africa;
- Estimates for mobile, fixed-line and internet market to end-2011 and 2012;
- Mobile market forecast for 2013 and 2016;
- Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
- Pricing comparison of all major broadband services (ADSL, WiMAX, triple play, 3G mobile);
- Africa’s most successful triple play service under investigation for anti-competitive behaviour;
- Nationwide FttC/FttH coverage planned for 2015.
Estimated market penetration rates in Mauritius’s telecoms sector – end 2011
Market
| Penetration rate
|
|---|
Mobile
| 94%
|
Fixed
| 30%
|
Internet
| 29%
|
(Source: BuddeComm based on various sources)
Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.
Peter Lange
May 2011
