Executive summary
Senegal’s economy has grown at 5% p.a. on average since the mid 1990s and has only moderately been affected by the global economic crisis. Representing around 6% of the country’s GDP, the telecom sector is dominated by Sonatel, the highly profitable national telco which is now trading under France Telecom’s Orange brand following its partial privatisation in 1997. The government is planning to sell part of its remaining stake to other investors.
Sonatel has one of the most efficient telecom networks in West Africa, offering some of the lowest retail and wholesale prices in the region. It is also the market leader in the mobile sector which it has shared with Millicom’s Sentel GSM (later rebranded Tigo) since 1999.
Competition in the fixed-line sector was introduced when Sudan’s Sudatel launched as the second national operator (SNO) in early 2009 under the name Expresso. Its licence also includes the country’s third mobile concession and the new entrant has chosen CDMA2000 technology to serve both market segments.
However, the licensing of new operators has not always been transparent in Senegal. Both Sentel’s and Sudatel’s licences were awarded under controversial circumstances.
Although mobile market penetration has passed the 50% mark, the average revenue per user in Senegal is relatively high. A wide range of value-added services is available to subscribers, including mobile Internet access. Third generation mobile broadband services are being rolled out.
Development of the Internet market has been hampered by Sonatel’s monopolistic pricing of bandwidth on the only high-capacity international submarine fibre optic cable serving the country. Despite this, broadband services in the country are relatively advanced, including broadband TV and converged triple-play services. Sonatel has progressively reduced its prices following the arrival of a second international fibre optic submarine cable in 2007, with at least two more scheduled for 2010 and 2011.
Key highlights:
- 2010 estimates for mobile, fixed-line and Internet market;
- Second fixed-line and third mobile network launch;
- Mobile market penetration has passed 50%;
- Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
- Further government divestiture of Sonatel announced;
- Sonatel financial results history;
- Update on licence disputes;
- 3G mobile rollouts;
- First m-payment/m-banking service launched;
- Internet and broadband pricing trends 2009;
- ‘Smart grid’ developments;
- New international fibre optic submarine cables expected in 2010 and 2011.
Sonatel mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2009
Year
| Subscribers
(thousand)
|
|---|
1999
| 190
|
2000
| 200
|
2001
| 288
|
2002
| 456
|
2003
| 576
|
2004
| 780
|
2005
| 1,050
|
2006
| 2,088
|
2007
| 2,512
|
2008
| 3,537
|
2009 (Sep)
| 4,305
|
(Source: BuddeComm based on Global Mobile, ARTP and company data)
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Senegal’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:
- Key statistics;
- Market and industry overviews;
- Regulatory environment and structural reform;
- Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
- Infrastructure development;
- Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G;
- Average Revenue per User (ARPU), fixed and mobile;
- Internet and broadband development and pricing;
- Convergence (voice/data/video, fixed/wireless/mobile).
For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecommunications sector in Senegal, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:
- Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
- Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
- The impact of the global economic crisis;
- Telecoms operators – privatisation, acquisitions, new licences, MVNOs;
- Internet and broadband development and growth, including 3G mobile;
- Broadband and mobile data services and pricing trends;
- Mobile and fixed-line Average Revenue per User (ARPU);
- The emergence of m-payment and m-banking services.