Niger expecting LTE service launch later in 2019

Niger is one of the largest countries in West Africa but also one of the poorest countries in the world. As with many African countries, a lack of fixed telecoms infrastructure has led to growth in mobile services. Niger’s mobile penetration is modest compared to other countries in the region, while fixed broadband penetration is negligible.

However, recent investments aimed at extending the reach of fibre-optic infrastructure in Niger will lead to improved internet networks and access. In late 2016 the country was awarded €43.9 million from the African Development Bank (ADB) to build-out the Trans-Saharan Dorsal optical fibre (SDR) network.

Following years of financial difficulties, the state-owned fixed line operator, Sonitel, was merged with its wholly owned mobile unit, SahelCom, in late 2016 to form a new entity, Niger Telecom. The merged company secured a global telecom licence in November 2017 and is aiming to develop greater efficiency through sharing resources and infrastructure.

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:

• Airtel Niger secures LTE licence;
• Airtel Niger and Orange Niger settle tax dispute;
• Government adopts three decrees aimed at developing the telecom sector; reinstates tax of telecom traffic;
• Orange Group applies to extend its Orange Bank service in Niger;
• Niger adopts free mobile roaming with other G5 Sahel countries;
• Regulator fines network operators for failing to register SIM card owners;
• Niger government contributes funds for its share of the Trans-Saharan Backbone network;
• Report update includes the regulator's 2018 market report, operator data to Q4 2018, recent market developments, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector.

Companies covered in this report include:

Niger Telecom (Sonitel, SahelCom), Bharti Airtel (Airtel Niger), Orange Niger, Atlantique Telecom, Moov, Maroc Telecom, Etisalat, African Development Bank.