Madagascar Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 24 Nov 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 98

Lead Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Contributing Analyst: Peter Lange

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Gulfsat licensed as Madagascar’s second backbone operator

Telecom services in Madagascar have benefited from intensifying competition between the main operators, including Orange Madagascar, Airtel and the incumbent telco Telma. A fourth mobile operator, Gulfsat Madagascar, operating under the Blueline banner, has its own mobile network and in mid-2020 was licensed to build its own fibre network, thus ending the monopoly long held by Telma.

Positive developments in the international connectivity are also materialising following investments in the METISS cable connecting to South Africa and Mauritius. Landing stations for this cable were completed in June 2020. The country’s connection to the Africa-1 cable will provide additional links to the African mainland and to other international cable systems.

A national fibre backbone has been implemented connecting the major cities, with Telma having invested some $250 million to expand the network to 11,000km between 2017 and 2019. Wireless access networks are being rolled out, with Telma having completed a network upgrade to LTE-A, and with the government in mid-2020 committing itself to deploying free WiFi hotspots in a bid to ensure that poorest sections of society have access to internet services.

Penetration rates in all market sectors are still below African averages, and so there remains considerable growth potential.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key Developments:

Telma ordered to suspend its 5G service;
Madagascar to host landing station for the Africa-1 cable system, to be ready in 2021;
National backbone network extended to 11,000km;
Gulfsat Madagascar secures licence to become the second national backbone provider;
Government announces plans to deploy free Wi-Fi hotspots;
Orange Madagascar completes national LTE-A network upgrade;
Telecom service tax drops to 8%;
Report update includes the regulator's market data updates for 2019, telcos' operating data to Q2 2020, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Telecom Malagasy (Telma), Airtel Madagascar (Zain, Celtel), Orange Madagascar, Madamobil, Gulfsat Madagascar (Blueline), Datacom, Data Telecom Services (DTS, Moov)

Key statistics
Country overview
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Telecommunications reform
National ICT Policy
Regulatory authority

ARTEC

Fixed-line developments

Universal Service Fund
Privatisation

Mobile network developments

Spectrum licenses
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
GPRS/EDGE
Satellite mobile
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Airtel Madagascar (formerly Madacom, Zain/Celtel)
Orange Madagascar (formerly SMM)
Telma Mobile (Telecom Malagasy)
Madamobil
Blueline

Mobile content and applications

Mobile money transfer, m-banking

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Public internet access locations
Data licensees
Broadband infrastructure

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
Other fixed-line broadband services

Fixed network operators

Telecom Malagasy (Telma)
Gulfsat Madagascar

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Network infrastructure
National fibre optic backbone
International infrastructure

SAFE
LION
EASSy
METISS
Africa-1
2Africa submarine cable

Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Madagascar – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Development of telecom market revenue by service – 2010 – 2019
Table 3 – Fixed-line voice and data revenue – 2014 – 2019
Table 4 – Development of wholesale revenue by service – 2016 – 2019
Table 5 – Change in telecom market investment – 2010 – 2019
Table 6 – Telecom sector share of GDP – 2012 – 2018
Table 7 – Mobile network coverage of communes – 2017; 2019
Table 8 – New mobile network coverage by technology – 2018 - 2019
Table 9 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 – 2025
Table 10 – Development of off-net mobile traffic – 2010 – 2019
Table 11 – Development of on-net mobile traffic – 2010 – 2019
Table 12 – Development of mobile revenue by type – 2017 – 2019
Table 13 – Increase in SMS traffic – 2008 – 2019
Table 14 – Decline in SMS revenue – 2017 – 2019
Table 15 – Population coverage by mobile platform – 2014 – 2018
Table 16 – Shared and owned mobile base stations – 2017 – 2019
Table 17 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 - 2025
Table 18 – Increase in fixed and mobile internet traffic – 2010 – 2019
Table 19 – Mobile internet revenue – 2016 – 2019
Table 20 – Airtel Madagascar mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 21 – Change in the number of Orange Madagascar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 22 – Telma Mobile mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 23 – Change in the number of fixed-line internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 24 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Table 25 – Increase in fixed-line internet traffic – 2010 – 2019
Table 26 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 27 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in the number of sixed wireless broadband subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 29 – Decline in the number of satellite broadband subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 30 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2021
Table 31 – Change in the number of fixed lines by type – 2015 – 2019
Table 32– Decline in fixed-line traffic – 2010 – 2019
Table 33 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2018
Table 34 – Historic - Telecom market revenue by service – 2006 – 2009
Table 35 – Historic - Mobile network coverage by technology and operator – 2017
Table 36 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2000 – 2009
Table 37 – Historic - Development of off-net mobile traffic – 2006 – 2009
Table 38 – Historic - Development of on-net mobile traffic – 2006 – 2009
Table 39 – Historic - Zain Madagascar financial data before takeover – 2006 – 2009
Table 40 – Historic - Orange Madagascar subscribers – 2007 – 2009
Table 41 – Historic - Orange Madagascar revenue – 2012 – 2014
Table 42 – Historic - Fixed-line internet users and penetration rate – 2000 – 2009
Table 43 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2006 – 2009
Table 44 – Historic - DSL broadband subscribers – 2006 – 2009
Table 45 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2000 – 2009
Table 46 – Historic - Fixed-line traffic – 2006 – 2009
Table 47 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2000 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Development of telecom market revenue by service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 2 – Development of wholesale revenue by service – 2016 – 2019
Chart 3 – Change in telecom market investment – 2010 – 2019
Chart 4 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 – 2025
Chart 5 – Development of off-net mobile traffic – 2010 – 2019
Chart 6 – Development of on-net mobile traffic – 2010 – 2019
Chart 7 – Increase in SMS traffic – 2008 – 2019
Chart 8 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 - 2025
Chart 9 – Increase in fixed and mobile internet traffic – 2010 – 2019
Chart 10 – Change in the number of Orange Madagascar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 11 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 12 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 13 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2021
Chart 14 – Change in the number of fixed lines by type – 2015 – 2019
Chart 15 – Decline in fixed-line traffic – 2010 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – 2Africa submarine cable
Exhibit 2 – 2Africa landing stations

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Madagascar Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Gulfsat licensed as Madagascar’s second backbone operator

Key Developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views