Home > Market Research > Mobile Markets > The Africa and Middle East Mobile Telecoms Market in Figures 4Q 2008: telecoms report on mobile subscribers in africa

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Management Report
Published: June 2009
Pages: 64
Tables: 85
From: GBP 245.00   Buy Now!
Research from: Blycroft Publishing
Sector: Mobile Markets

Gives you:

> Mobile operator subscriber data for all of Africa and the Middle East for 4Q 2008

> Detailed charts state-by-state showing mobile subscriber numbers by operator and mobile penetration 1Q07-4Q08

> Mobile penetration historical data

> Excel data file containing in excess of 1,000 data points with subscriber numbers state-by-state and by operator, together with population data for 2007 and 2008

> Detailed Market Opportunities Wallchart displaying the subscriber data as mobile penetration state-by-state, net additions and GDP, together with an six at-a-glance major group footprints to allow rapid comparative analysis, PLUS a table of mobile subscriber numbers state-by-state, operator-by-poerator for 4Q 2008: an invaluable visual strategic aid for anyone seriously assessing these key markets.

Pricing Options:

PDF only: Presented in an e-book format with tables and charts - GBP 299

PDF + Excel Datafile: As above but with an Excel data file containing the data that drives the tables and charts (some 1,049 data points), allowing manipulation for presentations and desk work - GBP 399

PDF + Excel Datafile + Wallchart: As well as a comprehensive e-book packed full of charts and tables, and an Excel data file of all the data, you also receive Blycroft's Africa and Middle East Telecoms Market Opportunities 2009 Wallchart which measures a chunky 835 mm x 600 mm and is the perfect aid for marketers sizing-up where to focus their efforts in Africa and the Middle East. Its unique 'side-by-side' format allows you to see at-a-glance mobile penetration, net subscriber additions and GDP nation-by-nation across the continent. In addition, it graphically illustrates where the major groups are currently focusing with six operator maps showing the scope of operations for Vodafone/Vodacom, Zain, MTN, Orange, Millicom and Etisalat.

Its unique 'side-by-side' format allows you to see at-a-glance mobile penetration, net subscriber additions and GDP nation-by-nation across the continent. In addition, it graphically illustrates where the major groups are currently focusing with six operator maps showing the scope of operations for Vodafone/Vodacom, Zain, MTN, Orange, Millicom and Etisalat. This unique 'at-a-glance' format allows you to immediately see where the 'big boys' are clustered, and where they are likely to be considering expanding ther coverage. If Zain is to jettison its African holdings, who are the likely successors-in-title? What properties is Vivendi likely to acquire and how will it affect the existing 'power balance' of the major groups? More critically, which developing markets are up for grabs?

Plus it provides in an easy-to-use table of subscriber numbers for operator-by-operator state-by-state for 4Q 2008. This data is extracted from 'Africa & Middle East Telecom-Week's mobile operator database which is updated daily by an experienced team of researchers who have been monitoring the market since the lauch of the title in February 2000. This is a truely comprehensive and exhaustive market data resource which allows you to immediately see who is the dominant operator; who is struggling or who has just got a toe-hole in the market.   See how the battle between CDMA and GSM technologies is fairing in Nigeria; how much of the market Zain scooped in Saudi Arabia in its first few months from launch, and much more!

PDF only:

Each quarter the 'Africa & Middle East Telecom-Week' team of researchers combs through the official financial reports issued by the regional mobile phone operators across Africa and the Middle East. This process provides the basis for the subscriber numbers and market share data country-by-country.

Many nations also sport an active regulator, many of whom are market-focused and provide good quality analysis and data sets for fixed and mobile operators, as well as also providing detailed snapshots of both Internet and broadcasting activities.

Many of the smaller, independent operators do not publish formal quarterly or annual data, or indeed publicly available financial reports. However, their senior management are often active in the local market and the research team keeps up-to-date by monitoring local newsfeeds and blogs.

Last, but not least, are the correspondents and local operator staff who regularly provide detailed insights directly from market.

Generally, the statistics are 'as published' by the operator, and are intended to represent all active lines that have been used at least once in the previous quarter. However, it is also known that some operators use different criteria, leading to regulators in a number of markets requesting that data be published on recognised criteria, rather than a cumulative-user figure. This was particularly so in Saudi Arabia and Egypt last year, although data sets from the operators concerned are still awaited at the time of publication (June 2009).

This has led the research team to take greater care when presenting data from these markets to ensure that individual operator data is weighted in line with expected and overall market growth.

In the case of Egypt the regulator has subsequently published quarterly operator values, allowing accurate figures to be provided. In the case of Saudi Arabia the data has been modelled, based on known activity levels of both the operator concerned and its competitors.

Etisalat is a case in point; it claimed for the end of 2007 that its Moov operation in West Africa had some 2.9 million subscribers. This is unlikely, particularly when compared with data released by individual operators in the affected markets. Not only are the values high in some markets where the regulator has published top-line market data, but also there remains question marks over the current ownership status of some of the operations, following court cases and ministerial intervention in some markets in 2008.

It is also worth noting that the requirement to register pre-paid mobile users is growing across the region. The latest to be affected is Bahrain, where the TRA announced its intention to register some 600,000 pre-paid mobile subscribers, or some 45 percent of the mobile population, in a 3-month programme starting September 2008. In late December the TRA extended the deadline to 31 March 2009, as despite the active publicity campaign undertaken by TRA and operators, there were still a significant number of unregistered subscribers. The deadline was not extended for subscribers who had already told their operator that they did not intend to register their details, and these users where disconnected from 1 January 2009.

Batelco's media relations General Manager Ahmed Al Janahi was quoted by the Gulf Daily News as saying that Batelco was fully aware of the Telecommunications Authority (TRA) directive on the suspension of unregistered lines which would be implemented after the latest deadline on registration expired.

Tanzania�s Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has also ordered all the nation�s telecom service providers to record the details of pre-paid SIM card users to deal with security threats posed by some GSM subscribers. The regulator stated that the pre-paid subscribers without registration should register with their respective telecom service providers within a period of six months from 1 July 2009.

Morocco had to deal with a million or so unregistered SIM cards, with Meditel accounting for the majority of them. The orginal ANRT sponsored campaign failed leading to the Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies, Ahmed Reda Chami telling Parliament that ANRT is developing a plan to limit the number of unregistered subscribers. At one point it was being suggested that as many as 12 million Jawal subscribers were still unregistered � this would have represented a remarkable 82 percent of the subscriber base as at 3Q 2008.

By way of comparison Algeria had more than 11 million unregistered SIM cards. The three month programme which ended in October saw some 2.6 million pre-paid unregistered SIM cards deactivated (9 percent of the 29.2 million active subscribers prior to the start of the operation). According to Algeria's ARPT this operation has given revised subscriber numbers for each operator, and these revised totals are reflected in the 4Q 2008 totals.

Burkina Faso's Regulatory Authority (ARTEL) in September announced steps to identify illegal usage of spectrum, and register SIM card owners. Operators were given a calendar month to update their retail systems, with unregistered SIM cards to be disabled at the end of the period.

Although pre- and post-paid data is available in the bigger and more mature markets, it is lacking or questionable in some of the less well developed markets, and therefore for the purposes of this document has been ignored. However, it can be assumed that pre-paid is the dominant mobile plan across Africa. Likewise, there are now outcrops of 3G usage, notably in South Africa, and along the North African coast. Mobile subscriber data are inclusive of both 2 and 3G users. 

The mobile data includes GSM and CDMA networks, but excludes fixed and CDMA-wireless networks, which are classed as an extension of the fixed network.

PDF + Excel Datafile:

This option allows you manipulate the data and incorporate it into internal reports and other management documents. The spreadsheet provides operator subscriber numbers for all operators in Africa and the Middle East for two time periods, namelt end of 4Q 2007 and 4Q 2008, together with population statistics to allow calculation of mobile penetration and net additions. The data is supplied in an Excel spreadsheet file and contains some 1,049 data points.

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Table of Contents

About the 4Q 2008 statistics 5
Africa Mobile Penetration 4Q 2008 7
Middle East Mobile Penetration 4Q 2008 9
Africa & Middle East Top 100 Mobile Operators by Subscribers 4Q 2008 10
African Top 50 Mobile Operators 4Q 2008 13
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators 4Q 2008 15
North Africa States Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 4Q 2008 17
North Africa Mobile Subscribers by State 17
North Africa Mobile Penetration by State 18
North Africa Mobile Subscribers by Operator 18
South Africa Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 4Q 2008 19
South Africa Mobile Subscribers by State 19
South Africa Mobile Penetration by State 20
South Africa Mobile Subscribers by Operator 20
West Africa Mobile Network Operator Statistics 22
West Africa Mobile Subscribers by State 22
West Africa Mobile Penetration by State 23
West Africa Mobile Subscribers by Operator 24
East Africa Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 4Q 2008 26
East Africa Mobile Subscribers by State 26
East Africa Mobile Penetration by State 27
East Africa Mobile Subscribers by Operator 27
Gulf Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 4Q 2008 29
Gulf Mobile Subscribers by State 29
Gulf Mobile Penetration by State 30
Gulf Mobile Subscribers by Operator 30
East Mediterranean Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 4Q 2008 32
East Mediterranean Mobile Subscribers by State 32
East Mediterranean Mobile Penetration 33
East Mediterranean Mobile Subscribers by Operator 33
Africa States by Net Additions 1Q 2008 - 4Q 2008 34
Middle East States by Net Additions 1Q 2008 - 4Q 2008 36
Selected Africa States: Mobile Penetration and Subscribers by Operator 4Q 2008 37
Algeria � Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 37
Angola � Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 37
Benin � Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 38
Botswana - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 38
Burkina Faso - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 39
Cameroon - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 39
Chad - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 40
Congo Brazzaville - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 40
Cote D�Ivoire - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 41
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 41
Egypt - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 42
Ethiopia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 42
Gabon - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 43
The Gambia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 43
Ghana - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 44
Guinea - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 44
Kenya - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 45
Liberia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 45
Libya - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 46
Madagascar - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 46
Malawi - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 47
Mali - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 47
Mauritania - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 48
Mauritius - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 48
Morocco - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 49
Mozambique - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 49
Namibia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 50
Niger - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 50
Nigeria - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 51
Rwanda - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 51
Senegal - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 52
Sierra Leone - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 52
South Africa - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 53
Sudan - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 53
Tanzania - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 54
Togo - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 54
Tunisia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 55
Uganda - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 55
Zambia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 56
Zimbabwe - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 56
Selected Middle East States:  Mobile Penetration and Subscribers by Operator 4Q 2008 57
Afghanistan - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 57
Bahrain - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 57
Iran - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 58
Iraq - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 58
Israel - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 59
Jordan - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 59
Kuwait - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 60
Lebanon - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 60
Oman - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 61
Palestine - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 61
Qatar - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 62
Saudi Arabia - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 62
Syria - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 63
Turkey - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 63
U.A.E - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 64
Yemen - Mobile Penetration and Subscribers 4Q 2008 64
Subscription Form 65

For full details, please email keithw@cmsinfo.com

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