Home > Market Research > Mobile Markets > Africa and Middle East Mobile Opportunities 2010-2014

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Market Study
Published: May 2010
Pages: 96
Tables: 93
From: GBP 795.00   Buy Now!
Research from: Portio Research
Sector: Mobile Markets

Packed-full of invaluable data, market sizing and growth forecasts, this must-have new study delivers vital insight into the exciting mobile markets of the AME region. With essential regional, country and operator-level analysis of this growing mobile space, the detailed report includes mobile subscriber, penetration, technology and messaging forecasts; as well as subscriber numbers, service revenues, market share and ARPU data, and strategies and developments of key mobile operators – plus so much more. With the AME mobile market now the subject of intense interest, this essential 96-page market report provides an understanding of the size, scope and major players of this changing mobile market.

Key features of this essential new market study:

• Study major markets and key players
• Identify growth opportunities in key markets
• Examine country level subscriber growth and penetration forecasts for 25 key markets
• Analyze 5-year market forecasts to 2014
• Assess MNO market share
• Compare MNO ARPU, service revenues, and strategies and developments
• Scrutinize technology (2G/3G split) and messaging forecasts to 2014
• Uncover the Top 10 AME MNOs by subscribers; and by net additions in subscriber base
• All this and more in this must-have 96 page report

About this report

While not without its challenges, Africa and the Middle East is an exciting market with vast untapped potential for mobile services, which will see its mobile subscriber base hit 911 million by end-2014 – representing a regional mobile penetration rate of just 62.4 percent.

Historically, key growth impediments that have caused AME mobile markets to lag behind mature Western and Asian counterparts have included a lack of appropriate infrastructure, low income levels and strict regulation in certain markets. While such obstacles won’t be wished away overnight, there is a genuine sense that the mobile landscape is changing – and changing fast as players race to seize and exploit emerging opportunities.

This new market study looks at the mobile markets of Africa and the Middle East in four fact-filled chapters:

• Mobile Market Overview
• Country Profiles
• Conclusion
• Appendices (including full glossary of terms)

The region is seeing increased deployment of new technology and upgrades. Most countries in this region now either have 3G networks or have 3G network launches planned; some are already operating on 3.5G. This increased expenditure on infrastructure development, combined with increased consumer awareness through marketing activities and regional economic growth, will further boost the uptake of mobile services.

In some instances, MNOs in the AME region are partnering up and sharing network infrastructure to reduce operating costs and mitigate a common conundrum for MNOs in most AME countries that have low ARPU and penetration rates: namely, how to balance operating at low ARPUs and concurrently meeting high-investment requirements to penetrate deeper into the market.

Until recently, most AME countries had a duopoly market structure – Government being one of them – with strict regulatory structures restricting entry of foreign players. But now the region is seeing a transformation from the dominance of state-owned operators to a more open marketplace with increased private-player participation and increased competition.

With high-profile deals like Bharti-Zain fuelling further interest in the AME region, and continuing consolidation and acquisition of mobile assets underway, the ‘land grab’ has begun in earnest and inaction makes missing out on fantastic opportunities an ever-likely possibility.

Providing regional, country and operator-level analysis of this growing mobile space, this new 96-page market study highlights where mobile opportunities exist in Africa and the Middle East, and what makes the region such an attractive destination for mobile operators – for both voice and data services. 

Further reasons to buy this research:

• Review essential forecasts and market data; regional, country and operator-level analysis
• Explore and identify opportunities in this exciting growth market
• See which AME markets will gain most from the changing mobile landscape
• Expose local obstacles to the adoption of mobile services
• Plan using regional and country-level mobile subscriber forecasts to 2014
• Highlight the Top 10 African and Top 10 Middle Eastern countries by mobile subscriber base
• Familiarise yourself with mobile subs and penetration for 25 major markets, and their key MNOs’ subs and market share
• Features data services forecasts: 5-year projections for SMS, MMS, Mobile E-mail and Mobile IM
• Benefit from a comparison of ARPU with country-level mobile penetration
• Read commentary on the future direction of the AME mobile market
• Graphic-heavy, text-light presentation in plain English with full glossary of terms

Companies Mentioned in this Report

012 Smile Communications www.012smile.com
Afric Xpress www.africxpress.com
Alvarion www.alvarion.com
Asiacell (Qtel) www.asiacell.com
Batelco www.batelco.com.bh
Bezeq www.bezeq.co.il
Bharti Airtel www.bharti.com
Cell C www.cellc.co.za
Cellcom www.cellcom.co.il
Du www.du.ae
Dubai Holdings www.dubaiholding.com
Econet www.econetwireless.com
Ericsson www.ericsson.com
Etisalat Egypt www.etisalat.com.eg
Etisalat UAE www.etisalat.ae
ForgetMeNot Africa www.forgetmenotafrica.com
France Telecom www.francetelecom.com
Globacom www.gloworld.com
Huawei www.huawei.com
IMI mobile www.imimobile.com
Korek Telecom www.korektel.com
Maroc Telecom www.maroctelecom.ma
mCel www.mcel.co.mz
MCI www.tcitoo.com
Meditel www.meditelecom.ma
Mobilis www.mobilis.dz
Mobily www.mobily.com.sa
MobiNil www.mobinil.com
Motorola www.motorola.com
MTN Ghana www.mtn.com.gh
Company Website
MTN Iran www.irancell.ir
MTN Nigeria www.mtnonline.com
MTN South Africa www.mtn.co.za
MTN Sudan www.mtn.sd
MTN Syria www.spacetelsyria.com
MTN Uganda www.mtn.co.ug
Nawras (Qtel) www.nawras.com.om
Omantel www.omantel.net.om
Orange Jordan www.orange.jo
Orascom Alegria www.djezzygsm.com
Orascom Tunisia www.tunisiana.com
Partner Orange www.orange.co.il
Pelephone www.pelephone.co.il
Qtel Qatar www.qtel.com.qa
Rotana Media www.rotana.net
Safaricom www.safaricom.co.ke
Sotelma www.sotelma.ml
STC (Saudi Telecom Company) www.stc.com.sa
Sudatel www.sudatel.sd
Syria Tel www.syriatel.com
Tamin Telecom www.tamintelecom.ir
Tigo DRC www.tigo.cd
Tigo Ghana www.tigo.com.gh
Tigo Tanzania www.tigo.co.tz
Tunicell www.tunisietelecom.tn
Umniah www.umniah.com
Vodacom DRC www.vodacom.cd
Vodafone Egypt www.vodafone.com.eg
Vodafone Ghana www.vodafone.com.gh
Vodacom Lesotho www.vodacom.co.ls
Vodacom Mozambique www.vm.co.mz
Vodafone Qatar www.vodafone.com.qa
Vodacom South Africa www.vodacom.co.za
Vodacom Tanzania www.vodacom.co.tz
Warid Uganda www.waridtel.co.ug
Wataniya Alegria (Nedjma) www.nedjma.dz
Wataniya (Qtel) Kuwait www.wataniya.com
Zain Bahrain www.bh.zain.com
Zain DRC www.cd.zain.com
Zain Iraq www.iq.zain.com
Zain Jordan www.jo.zain.com
Zain Kenya www.ke.zain.com
Zain Kuwait www.kw.zain.com
Zain Nigeria www.ng.zain.com
Zain Saudi Arabia www.sa.zain.com
Zain Sudan www.sd.zain.com
Zain Tanzania www.tz.zain.com
Zain Uganda www.ug.zain.com

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Table of Contents

Mobile Market Overview .. 10
Technology Status .. 11
Data Services .. 12
SMS .. 12
MMS .. 12
Mobile E-mail  14
Mobile IM . 14
Country Profiles  17
Algeria .. 17
Subscribers and Penetration .. 17
Technology Status .. 17
Key MNOs’ Information . 17
Strategies and Developments  18
Bahrain  19
Subscribers and Penetration .. 19
Mobile Messaging Data . 19
Technology Status .. 19
Key MNOs’ Information . 20
Strategies and Developments  20
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) .. 21
Subscribers and Penetration .. 21
Mobile Messaging Data . 21
Technology Status .. 21
Key MNOs’ Information . 22
Strategies and Developments  22
Egypt . 23
Subscribers and Penetration .. 23
Mobile Messaging Data . 23
Technology Status .. 24
Key MNOs’ Information . 24
Strategies and Developments  24
Ghana .. 25
Subscribers and Penetration .. 25
Technology Status .. 25
Key MNOs’ Information . 26
Strategies and Developments  26
Iran . 27
Subscribers and Penetration .. 27
Mobile Messaging Data . 27
Technology Status .. 27
Key MNOs’ Information . 28
Strategies and Developments  28
Iraq . 29
Subscribers and Penetration .. 29
Technology Status .. 29
Key MNOs’ Information . 29
Strategies and Developments  29
Israel . 31
Subscribers and Penetration .. 31
Technology Status .. 31
Key MNOs’ Information . 32
Strategies and Developments  32
Jordan .. 33
Subscribers and Penetration .. 33
Technology Status .. 33
Key MNOs’ Information . 33
Strategies and Developments  34
Kenya  35
Subscribers and Penetration .. 35
Mobile Messaging Data . 35
Key MNOs’ Information . 36
Strategies and Developments  36
Kuwait .. 37
Subscribers and Penetration .. 37
Technology Status .. 37
Key MNOs’ Information . 38
Strategies and Developments  38
Lesotho  39
Subscribers and Penetration .. 39
Technology Status .. 39
Key MNOs’ Information . 40
Strategies and Developments  40
Morocco .. 41
Subscribers and Penetration .. 41
Mobile Messaging Data . 41
Technology Status .. 41
Key MNOs’ Information . 42
Strategies and Developments  42
Mozambique . 43
Subscribers and Penetration .. 43
Technology Status .. 43
Key MNOs’ Information . 44
Strategies and Developments  44
Nigeria . 45
Subscribers and Penetrations  45
Mobile Messaging Data . 45
Technology Status .. 45
Key MNOs’ Information . 46
Strategies and Developments  46
Oman  48
Subscribers and Penetration .. 48
Mobile Messaging Data . 48
Technology Status .. 49
Key MNOs’ Information . 49
Strategies and Developments  49
Qatar . 50
Subscribers and Penetration .. 50
Technology Status .. 50
Key MNOs’ Information . 51
Strategies and Developments  51
Saudi Arabia . 52
Subscribers and Penetration .. 52
Mobile Messaging Data . 52
Technology Status .. 52
Key MNOs’ Information . 53
Strategies and Developments  53
South Africa .. 55
Subscribers and Penetration .. 55
Mobile Messaging Data . 55
Technology Status .. 55
Key MNOs’ Information . 56
Strategies and Developments  56
Sudan .. 58
Subscribers and Penetration .. 58
Technology Status .. 58
Key MNOs’ Information . 59
Strategies and Developments  59
Syria .. 60
Subscribers and Penetration .. 60
Technology Status .. 60
Key MNOs’ Information . 61
Strategies and Developments  61
Tanzania . 62
Subscribers and Penetration .. 62
Technology Status .. 62
Key MNOs’ Information . 63
Strategies and Developments  63
Tunisia . 64
Subscribers and Penetration .. 64
Technology Status .. 64
Key MNOs’ Information . 64
Strategies and Developments  65
The UAE . 66
Subscribers and Penetration .. 66
Technology Status .. 66
Key MNOs’ Information . 67
Strategies and Developments  67
Uganda  68
Subscribers and Penetration .. 68
Mobile Messaging Data . 68
Technology Status .. 68
Key MNOs’ Information . 69
Strategies and Developments  69
Conclusion  71
Changing face and fate of the market  71
Subscriber numbers – reflecting growth  72
MNOs building strategies for wider adoption . 75
Bottom line – What the region holds?  76
Appendices .. 78
Glossary .. 78
Portio Research Classifications . 90
Companies Mentioned in this Report . 91
About the Authors 94
Also available from Portio Research Limited . 95

List of Figures
Figure 1: Mobile Subscribers – Africa and Middle East (In Million, End 2008 – End 2014F)  10
Figure 2: Mobile Penetration – Africa and Middle East (In Percent, End 2008 – End 2014F) . 11
Figure 3: Technology Forecast — Africa and Middle East (In Million, End 2008 – End 2014F) . 11
Figure 4: SMS Traffic – Africa and Middle East (In Billion, End 2008 – End 2014F)  12
Figure 5: MMS Traffic – Africa and Middle East (In Billion, End 2008 – End 2014F)  13
Figure 6: Mobile E-mail Users – Africa and Middle East (In Million, End 2008 – End 2014F) . 14
Figure 7: Mobile IM Users – Africa and Middle East (In Million, End 2008 – End 2014F) . 15
Figure 8: Technology Status — Bahrain (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009)  20
Figure 9: Technology Status — Egypt (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 24
Figure 10: Technology Status — Ghana (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) .. 25
Figure 11: Technology Status — Israel (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 31
Figure 12: Technology Status — Kenya (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009)  36
Figure 13: Technology Status — Kuwait (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) .. 37
Figure 14: Technology Status — Lesotho (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009)  39
Figure 15: Technology Status — Morocco (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) .. 42
Figure 16: Technology Status — Mozambique (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 43
Figure 17: Technology Status — Nigeria (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 46
Figure 18: Technology Status — Oman (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009)  49
Figure 19: Technology Status — Qatar (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 50
Figure 20: Technology Status — Saudi Arabia (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 53
Figure 21: Technology Status — South Africa (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) .. 56
Figure 22: Technology Status — Sudan (As a Percentage, End 2007 – September 2009)  58
Figure 23: Technology Status — Syria (As a Percentage, End 2007 –End 2009)  60
Figure 24: Technology Status — Tanzania (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 62
Figure 25: Technology Status — The UAE (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009) . 66
Figure 26: Technology Status — Uganda (As a Percentage, End 2007 – End 2009)  68
Figure 27: Top 10 Countries by CAGR of Mobile Subscriber Base – Africa and Middle East (In
Percent, End 2009 – End 2014F) . 72
Figure 28: Top 10 Countries by Net Additions in Mobile Subscriber Base – Africa and Middle East (In Million, 2008 – 2009) .. 75
Figure 29: Comparison of ARPU with Country-level Mobile Penetration (2009)  76

List of Tables
Table 1: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Algeria (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 17
Table 2: Key MNOs’ Information — Algeria . 17
Table 3: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Bahrain (End 2008 – End 2014F)  19
Table 4: Mobile Messaging Data — Bahrain (End 2007 – End 2009)  19
Table 5: Key MNOs’ Information — Bahrain .. 20
Table 6: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — DR Congo (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 21
Table 7: Mobile Messaging Data — DR Congo (End 2007 – End 2009) .. 21
Table 8: Key MNOs’ Information — DR Congo . 22
Table 9: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Egypt (End 2008 – End 2014F)  23
Table 10: Mobile Messaging Data — Egypt (End 2007 – End 2009)  23
Table 11: Key MNOs’ Information — Egypt  24
Table 12: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Ghana (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 25
Table 13: Key MNOs’ Information — Ghana . 26
Table 14: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Iran (End 2008 – End 2014F)  27
Table 15: Mobile Messaging Data — Iran (End 2007 – End 2009)  27
Table 16: Key MNOs’ Information — Iran  28
Table 17: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Iraq (End 2008 – End 2014F)  29
Table 18: Key MNOs’ Information — Iraq  29
Table 19: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Israel (End 2008 – End 2014F)  31
Table 20: Key MNOs’ Information — Israel  32
Table 21: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Jordan (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 33
Table 22: Key MNOs’ Information — Jordan . 33
Table 23: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Kenya (End 2008 – End 2014F) .. 35
Table 24: Mobile Messaging Data — Kenya (End 2007 – End 2009) .. 35
Table 25: Key MNOs’ Information — Kenya .. 36
Table 26: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Kuwait (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 37
Table 27: Key MNOs’ Information — Kuwait . 38
Table 28: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Lesotho (End 2008 – End 2014F) .. 39
Table 29: Key MNOs’ Information — Lesotho .. 40
Table 30: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Morocco (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 41
Table 31: Mobile Messaging Data — Morocco (End 2007 – End 2009) .. 41
Table 32: Key MNOs’ Information — Morocco . 42
Table 33: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Mozambique (End 2008 – End 2014F)  43
Table 34: Key MNOs’ Information — Mozambique  44
Table 35: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Nigeria (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 45
Table 36: Mobile Messaging Data — Nigeria (End 2007 – End 2009) . 45
Table 37: Key MNOs’ Information — Nigeria  46
Table 38: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Oman (End 2008 – End 2014F) .. 48
Table 39: Mobile Messaging Data — Oman (End 2007 – End 2009)  48
Table 40: Key MNOs’ Information — Oman .. 49
Table 41: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Qatar (End 2008 – End 2014F)  50
Table 42: Key MNOs’ Information — Qatar  51
Table 43: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Saudi Arabia (End 2008 – End 2014F)  52
Table 44: Mobile Messaging Data — Saudi Arabia (End 2007 – End 2009) . 52
Table 45: Key MNOs’ Information — Saudi Arabia  53
Table 46: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — South Africa (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 55
Table 47: Mobile Messaging Data — South Africa (End 2007 – End 2009) .. 55
Table 48: Key MNOs’ Information — South Africa . 56
Table 49: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration —Sudan (End 2008 – End 2014F)  58
Table 50: Key MNOs’ Information — Sudan . 59
Table 51: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Syria (End 2008 – End 2014F) . 60
Table 52: Key MNOs’ Information — Syria . 61
Table 53: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Tanzania (End 2008 – End 2014F)  62
Table 54: Key MNOs’ Information — Tanzania  63
Table 55: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Tunisia (End 2008 – End 2014F)  64
Table 56: Key MNOs’ Information — Tunisia  64
Table 57: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — The UAE (End 2008 – End 2014F)  66
Table 58: Key MNOs’ Information — The UAE  67
Table 59: Mobile Subscribers and Penetration — Uganda (End 2008 – End 2014F) .. 68
Table 60: Mobile Messaging Data — Uganda (End 2007 – End 2009)  68
Table 61: Key MNOs’ Information — Uganda .. 69
Table 62: Top 10 MNOs by Subscribers – Africa and Middle East (In Million, 2009)  71
Table 63: Top 10 Countries by Mobile Subscriber Base – Africa (In Million, 2009)  73
Table 64: Top 10 Countries by Mobile Subscriber Base – Middle East (In Million, 2009) .. 74

For full details, please email keithw@cmsinfo.com

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