2007 African - Telecommunications, Infrastructure, Fixed Voice and Data Markets

Report Cover Image

Last updated: 20 Nov 2007 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 259

Analyst: Stephen McNamara

Publication Overview

This annual report offers a wealth of information on telecommunications infrastructure in 34 African countries and their fixed voice and data markets. Subjects covered include:

  • Key Statistics
  • Brief overviews of the major telecommunications carriers and service providers;
  • National telecom networks;
  • Wireless Local Loop (WLL) systems;
  • Next Generation Networks (NGNs);
  • International infrastructure;
  • VSAT networks;
  • Datacomms Infrastructure;
  • Leased Lines, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, DSL;
  • Public and value-added data services.

Executive Summary

While being the worlds most rapidly growing market for mobile telephony, Africa is also home to some of the fastest growing fixed-line markets in the world, albeit from a small base. The continent still has some of the world’s lowest penetration rates in both market sectors.

The difficulties of rolling out fixed-line networks across its vast land mass have meant that by early 2007 mobile users constituted almost 90% of all African telephone subscribers. However, as lower and lower income groups are being targeted, a price-sensitive market for lower-cost fixed or limited-mobility services is emerging.

A surge in demand for Internet access and broadband capabilities is accelerating this fixed-line renaissance in some of Africa’s more advanced markets. Despite reasonable growth of the traditional fixed-line markets in some countries, subscriber access to both voice and data services is shifting more and more to fixed-wireless solutions as a substitute for inadequate fixed-line infrastructure.

Several international fibre projects currently under development will deliver the necessary bandwidth to Africa, increase competition in this sector and bring down costs. Several countries have embarked on national fibre backbone rollouts to take new services beyond the capital cities. However, satellite will continue to play a significant role in reaching Africa’s extensive rural and remote areas.

Foreign investors are scrambling for positions in this very lucrative market as liberalisation continues, national telcos are being privatised and new operating licenses issued.

Key highlights:

  • Fixed-line market forecasts to 2010 and 2015 for 16 African countries;
  • Converged licensing regimes increase competition in the fixed-line sector;
  • Several new submarine fibre projects currently under development will improve the supply of international bandwidth at drastically reduced prices;
  • Privatised national telcos are highly profitable;
  • Fixed-line incumbents are expanding WLL systems and pushing fixed-mobile convergence;
  • Major WiMAX launches planned for 2008;
  • Morocco’s second and third fixed-line operators gain 34% market share within six months after launch.

Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Morocco - 1994 - 2007

Year Fixed lines (MT) FWA (Meditel, Wana) Teledensity
1994 1,007,000 n/a 3.9%
1995 1,128,000 n/a 4.2%
1996 1,208,000 n/a 4.5%
1997 1,301,000 n/a 4.7%
1998 1,393,000 n/a 5.0%
1999 1,471,000 n/a 5.3%
2000 1,425,000 n/a 5.0%
2001 1,191,300 n/a 4.1%
2002 1,127,400 n/a 3.8%
2003 1,219,200 n/a 4.0%
2004 1,308,600 n/a 4.2%
2005 1,341,200 n/a 4.3%
2006 1,266,100 100,000 4.4%
2007 (Jun) 1,280,000 660,900 6.0%
(Source: BuddeComm based on ITU, ANRT and industry data)

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Related Reports

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Monitor critical insights with our AI-powered Market Intelligence Platform gathering and analyzing intelligence in real time. With AI trained to spot emerging trends and detect new strategic opportunities, our clients use TMT Intelligence to accelerate their growth.

If you want to know more about it, please see:

TMT Intelligence Platform

Research Methodology

BuddeComm's strategic business reports contain a combination of both primary and secondary research statistics, analyses written by our senior analysts supported by a network of experts, industry contacts and researchers from around the world as well as our own scenario forecasts.

For more details, please see:

Research Methodology

More than 4,000 customers from 140 countries utilise BuddeComm Research

Are you interested in BuddeComm's Custom Research Service?

News & Views

Have the latest telecommunications industry news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to BuddeComm's weekly newsletter.

Unsubscribe