The largest telecommunications research site on the internet
Publication Overview
This report provides 213 statistical tables and 43 charts for the mobile voice and data communications activities for the major 42 African countries. Full details are given elsewhere in the annual reports listed at the end of the Contents section.
Researcher:- Peter Lange
Current publication date:- November 2012 (10th Edition)
Mobile phones represent more than 90% of all telephone lines in Africa. Market penetration passed the 65% mark in early 2012, with an annual growth rate of around 20%. However, individual markets are still growing at 50% p.a. or more, and others stand at less than half the penetration rate. The continent’s most advanced markets have passed the 100% penetration mark.
The introduction of prepaid services and a steady decline in tariffs has meant that two thirds of Africa’s more than one billion people can now afford a mobile phone. However, as lower income groups are being targeted, the declining Average Revenue per User (ARPU) is putting pressure on the network operators' profit margins. Price wars have broken out in some markets where a large number of operators have been licensed. Despite this, international investors are still very keen to enter the market through new mobile licences or shares in existing mobile operations in Africa.
Mobile broadband technologies are increasingly being used as a substitute for poor or non-existent fixed-line infrastructure in Africa. As subscriber growth peaks in the voice market, many mobile network operators have established themselves as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and are playing an increasing role in the broadband sector, competing directly with fixed or wireless broadband services such as DSL and WiMAX – a welcome new revenue stream in an environment of shrinking voice ARPU.
Table of Contents
Related Reports
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Number of pages 120
Status Archived
Last updated 21 Nov 2012
Update History
Analyst: Peter Lange
I have both worked with Paul and valued his opinion on many occasions. Following, his many comments on the telecommunications industry has been rewarding and insightful. His reports have always been of value and help guide us through the maze of jargon, politics and defined the real road map of this complex industry.
David Hayes, Country Manager - Australia at Bulletin Wireless
Denmark - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
US$575.00 until 2 Oct 2019
(normal price US$1,150.00)
Ukraine - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
US$575.00 until 2 Oct 2019
(normal price US$1,150.00)
A selection of downloadable samples from our Annual Publications catalogue.
More than 4,000 customers from 140 countries utilise BuddeComm Research
Are you interested in BuddeComm's Custom Research Service?
Have the latest telecommunications industry news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to Paul's FREE weekly News & Views.