Zambia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: December 2023

Report Pages: 158

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Zambia licences a fourth mobile market operator

Following elections held in August 2021, the new government immediately established a Ministry of Technology and Science to promote the use of ICT in developing economic growth and social inclusion. This focus on ICT, and on telecoms in particular, has been central to government strategies for some years. As part of the Smart Zambia initiative, investment has been made in data centres, a computer assembly plant, ICT training centres, and a Smart Education program. These efforts have been combined with the extension of broadband access and improved connectivity to international submarine cables. In turn, this has resulted in a considerable reduction in fixed-line and mobile access pricing for end-users.

Mobile network operators continue to invest in 3G and LTE-based services, while the government also contracted Huawei to upgrade the state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services. Delays in holding spectrum have stymied the development of 5G thus far. However, in mid-2021 the regulator completed a consultation of auctioning low, medium, and high band spectrum for 5G, aiming to provide sufficient spectrum to meet the anticipated increase in data traffic in coming years.

Fixed-line broadband services remain underdeveloped, though MTN Zambia has initiated an FttP program, initially in Lusaka.

BuddeComm notes that the pandemic continues to have 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

MTN Zambia begins 5G trials with Huawei;
Government makes progress with the SMART Zambia project;
Fourth licensee Beeline Telecoms preps for delayed service launch in mid-2022;
Regulator consults on spectrum bands to be auctioned for 5G;
Government establishes a Ministry of Technology and Science to promote the use of ICT;
Paratus Group opens a carrier-neutral data centre in Lusaka;
Huawei contracted to upgrade state-owned mobile tower network for 5G;
MTN Zambia announces FttP rollout plans via its ‘Connected Home’ initiative, launches micro lending service Kongola;
National Data Centre opens as part of the government’s Smart Zambia project;
Report update includes the regulator’s market updates to December 2021, operator data to Q1 2022, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report

Zambia Telecommunications (Zamtel, LAP Green); MTN Zambia; Bharti Airtel; Cell Z (Zamtel); ZamNet; Coppernet Solutions; UUNet Zambia; Microlink Technologies; AfriConnect; Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO); Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC); Comium.

Key statistics
Regional Africa Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Telecommunications Act 1994
ICT Policy 2007
ICT Act 2009
Regulatory Framework 2017
Telecom sector liberalisation
International gateways
Licensing
New unified licensing regime 2009
Universal Access Fund (UAF)
Infrastructure sharing
Privatisation
Quality of Service (QoS)
Converged licensing

Mobile network developments

SIM card registration
Spectrum auctions
Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile data

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments

Major mobile operators

Airtel Zambia (formerly Zain/Celtel, Zamcell)
MTN Zambia (formerly Telecel)
Zamtel Mobile (formerly Cell Z)
Vodafone Zambia
UZI Zambia
Beeline Telecoms

Mobile content and applications

M-commerce
M-payment and m-banking

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Broadband statistics
Public internet access locations
Community telecentres

Fixed-line broadband technologies

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Leased lines
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed network operators

Zamtel

CDMA2000 wireless local loop (WLL)
Domestic satellite network

Telecommunications infrastructure

ZESCO
Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT)
National backbone networks
Data centres
International infrastructure

Terrestrial cables
Submarine cables
Satellite

Digital economy

E-health
E-learning
E-government
E-banking

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Zambia – 2022 (e)
Table 2 – Voice interconnection rates for operators (ZMW / minute) – 2013 – 2021
Table 3 – SMS interconnection rates for operators (ZMW per message) – 2013 – 2021
Table 4 – Change in annualised mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Table 5 – Growth in the number of registered SIM cards – 2012 – 2021
Table 6 – Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Development of mobile market revenue and capex (ZMW million) – 2012 – 2021
Table 8 – Development of SMS and MMS traffic – 2012 – 2021
Table 9 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 10 – Change in the number of mobile sites by platform – 2016 – 2021
Table 11 – Development of mobile geographic coverage by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 12 – Development of Airtel Zambia’s financial data (ZMW million) – 2012 – 2021
Table 13 – Growth in the number of Airtel Zambia’s mobile subscribers – 2014 – 2021
Table 14 – Development of MTN Zambia’s financial data (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 15 – Development of MTN Zambia’s financial data (ZMW million) – 2016 – 2021
Table 16 – Change in MTN Zambia’s mobile service revenue (ZAR million) – 2018 – 2021
Table 17 – Growth in the number of MTN Zambia’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 18 – Decline in MTN Zambia’s mobile ARPU – 2013 – 2022
Table 19 – Growth in the number of Zamtel’s mobile subscribers – 2014 – 2021
Table 20 – Growth in the number of MTN Zambia’s m-money subscribers – 2018 – 2021
Table 21 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 22 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 23 – Growth in the number of FttB subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Decline in Zamtel’s fixed-line revenue – 2014 – 2021
Table 25 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 26 – Change in annualised fixed-line ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – Development of fixed-line voice traffic (million minutes) – 2012 – 2021
Table 28 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2020
Table 29 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 – 2011
Table 30 – Historic - Registered mobile SIM cards – 2012 – 2015
Table 31 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 – 2011
Table 32 – Historic - Zamtel mobile revenue (ZMW million) – 2012 – 2013
Table 33 – Historic - Internet users – 2000 – 2015
Table 34 – Historic - Internet connections by data rate – 2011 – 2015
Table 35 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2008
Table 36 – Historic - Growth in the number of fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration – 2006 – 2011
Table 37 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2000 – 2011
Table 38 – Historic - Change in urban and rural household mobile penetration – 2015; 2018

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Africa – Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Africa – Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 6 – Africa – Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 – Africa – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 – Africa – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Africa – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Change in annualised mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Chart 11 – Growth in the number of registered SIM cards – 2012 – 2021
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 13 – Development of mobile market revenue and capex – 2012 – 2021
Chart 14 – Development of SMS and MMS traffic – 2012 – 2021
Chart 15 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 16 – Change in the number of mobile sites by platform – 2016 – 2021
Chart 17 – Development of Airtel Zambia’s financial data (ZMW million) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of Airtel Zambia’s mobile subscribers – 2014 – 2021
Chart 19 – Development of MTN Zambia’s financial data – 2012 – 2022
Chart 20 – Development of MTN Zambia’s financial data – 2016 – 2021
Chart 21 – Growth in the number of MTN Zambia’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 22 – Decline in MTN Zambia’s mobile ARPU – 2013 – 2022
Chart 23 – Growth in the number of Zamtel’s mobile subscribers – 2014 – 2021
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 25 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 26 – Growth in the number of FttB subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 27 – Decline in Zamtel’s fixed-line revenue – 2014 – 2021
Chart 28 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 29 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2011 – 2020

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Africa – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Africa – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Africa – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Map of Zambia

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Zambia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Zambia licences a fourth mobile market operator

Key developments

Companies mentioned in this report

Key statistics

Regional Africa Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Digital economy

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views