Uganda - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 28 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 137

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Uganda expected to show positive GDP growth despite COVID-19

Reforms within the telecom sector in Uganda have provided the country with one of the most competitive markets in the region. The entry of MTN Uganda as the second national operator to compete with Uganda Telecom in all telecom sectors revolutionised the availability and quality of services. Competitors in recent years have taken advantage of the mismanagement of the incumbent telco, which contributed to underinvestment and the loss of subscribers. Uganda Telecom went into receivership in early 2017, and though the government reasserted control of the company it has since tried to sell its interest in it. A late 2018 sale to Teleology Holdings fell through after the latter failed to pay a deposit.

A simplified and converged licensing regime has significantly reduced barriers to market entry and increased competition, but this has also led to price wars which have dented operator revenue. Fixed-line infrastructure remains poor, with low penetration, and as a result fixed-line broadband penetration is also particularly low. In consequence, consumers have largely depended on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services. There is sufficient capacity with LTE infrastructure to match data demand during the next few years. Nevertheless, MTN Uganda has anticipated the migration to 5G, having held trials in early 2020. The roll out of a not expected before 2022.

Key developments

New license regime comes into play;
MTN Uganda trials standalone 5G;
New Ministry of ICT & National Guidance formed;
Liquid Telecom expands reach of FttP services;
Alphabet gets clearance to develop Loon broadband in Uganda;
Government commissions broadband satellite services for remote areas;
Regulator enforces national mobile broadband coverage obligations on mobile service licensees;
Difficulties remaining with SIM card registration scheme;
MTN Uganda secures licence renewal;
Ericsson deploys its Converged Wallet platform for MTN Uganda;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to September 2019, Telecom maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, operator data to Q4 2019, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report

Uganda Telecom (UTL, LAP Green), MTN Uganda, UMEME, SEACOM, Infocom (Altech, Liquid Telecom), Internet Solutions, MTN Uganda (Telia), Bharti Airtel (Zain, Celtel), Uganda Telecom (UTL, LAP Green, Telecel, Orascom, Deutsche Telekom), Warid Telecom (Essar), Orange Uganda (HiTS Telecom), i-Tel, Simba Telecoms, Standard Chartered Bank, Monitise, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Eaton Towers, Smile Telecom, Smart Telecom, Sure Telecom, K2 Telecom, Africell (Lintel), UTL Online (Uganda Telecom), Infocom (Altech), Africa Online, Spacenet, MTN, Wateen Telecoms (Warid), Smile Telecom, Foris Telecom, Talk Telecom, Mo Telecom, Goal Technology Solutions (GTS), UMEME, WBS Television, NTV Uganda, MultiChoice..

Key Statistics
Regional African Market Comparison

TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband
Fixed and mobile broadband

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

Historical overview
Regulatory authorities

Uganda Communications Commission
National Information Technology Authority
Ministry of ICT

Fixed-line developments

Telecommunications Policy 1996
Uganda Communications Act 1997
Uganda Communications Act 2013
Regional Communications Infrastructure Program
Telecom sector liberalisation
Licensing prior to 2007
New licensing regime
Additional mobile networks
Interconnect
RCDF projects
Taxes

Mobile network developments

Licensing
One Network Area
Infrastructure sharing
SIM card registration
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile data

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE
3G

Other infrastructure developments

Mobile satellite
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)

Major mobile operators

MTN Uganda
Airtel Uganda (formerly Zain, Celtel)
Warid Telecom
Uganda Telecom (UTL)
Africell (Orange Uganda)
Smile Communications
Smart Telecom, Sure Telecom
Vodafone Uganda

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
Mobile content and applications

m-banking/money
m-Health

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Public Internet access locations
Uganda Internet Exchange Point (UiXP)
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Wi-Fi
WiMAX
Broadband over powerlines (BPL)
Satellite broadband
Digital Economy
E-commerce
E-government
E-health
E-learning

Fixed network operators

Uganda Telecom (UTL)

Privatisation
Network infrastructure

MTN Uganda

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Fibre infrastructure

MTN and UTL
National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI)
Next Generation Networks (NGN)
UMEME
Google
Facebook
UETCL

International infrastructure

Submarine fibre
International bandwidth
Terrestrial fibre
Satellite, VSAT

Smart infrastructure

Smart grids

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Uganda – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Telecom service tax revenue in Uganda – 2008 – 2019
Table 3 – Increase in the number of mobile base stations and towers in service – 2015 – 2019
Table 4 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 5 – Growth in mobile voice traffic by type – 2008 – 2019
Table 6 – SMS messages sent, by type – 2014 – 2019
Table 7 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 8 – Growth in the number of MTN Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 9 – Development of MTN Uganda’s financial data – 2013 – 2019
Table 10 – MTN Uganda revenue by type – 2015 – 2019
Table 11 – Development of MTN Uganda’s ARPU – 2009 – 2019
Table 12 – Growth in the number of Airtel Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 13 – Change in the number of Telecel’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 14 – Growth in the number of Africell Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 15 – Growth in the number of mobile money agents and subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 16 – Growth in the number of mobile money transactions and value – 2009 – 2019
Table 17 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 18 – Growth in of fixed broadband subscriptions – 2010 – 2025
Table 19 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010- 2025
Table 20 – Uganda's international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2018
Table 21 – Uganda's internet bandwidth per population – 2012 – 2018
Table 22 – Historic - Telecom market revenue in Uganda – 2008- 2012
Table 23 – Vodafone Uganda mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2017
Table 24 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Uganda – 1996 – 2009
Table 25 – Historic - MTN Uganda subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 26 – Historic - MTN Uganda ARPU – 2002 – 2009
Table 27 – Historic - Airtel Uganda subscribers – 2002 – 2009
Table 28 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in Uganda – 1995 – 2009
Table 29 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Uganda – 1995 – 2009
Table 30 – Historic - Uganda's international internet bandwidth – 1999 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 2 – East Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 – Africa – Bottom-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Emergents)
Chart 4 – East Africa –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 5 – East Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – East Africa fixed and mobile penetration rates
Chart 7 – Telecom tax revenue in Uganda – 2008 – 2019
Chart 8 – Increase in the number of mobile base stations and towers in service – 2015 – 2019
Chart 9 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 10 – Growth in mobile voice traffic by type – 2008 – 2019
Chart 11 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of MTN Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 13 – Development of MTN Uganda’s financial data – 2013 – 2019
Chart 14 – Development of MTN Uganda’s ARPU – 2009 – 2019
Chart 15 – Growth in the number of Airtel Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 16 – Change in the number of Telecel’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 17 – Growth in the number of Africell Uganda’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of mobile money agents and subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 19 – Growth in the number of mobile money transactions and value – 2009 – 2019
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Chart 21 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010- 2025

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – East Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – International gateway licences fees

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Uganda - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Uganda expected to show positive GDP growth despite COVID-19

Key developments

Companies mentioned in this report

Key Statistics

Regional African Market Comparison

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

Smart infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Hot Topics

News & Views