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The Southern African Mobile Communications Market Tracker
Frost & Sullivan, May 2011, Pages: 154
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled The Southern African Mobile Communications Market Tracker provides analyses on industry challenges, market drivers and restraints, revenue and expenditure forecasting and current and future strategies. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following countries: South Africa and Zambia. Mobile communication technologies covered in the research include: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobiles (GSM), 3/3.5G (UMTS, HSxPA, HSPA+), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Long term Evolution (LTE).
The research service provides a strategic analysis on the southern African mobile communications market through highlighting key growth markets such as South Africa and Zambia. Although operators are facing various challenges, the region is expected to show strong growth in the next three to five years through increasing network coverage and offering innovative data services. The research service also identifies growth opportunities and recommends a broadband frame of strategies which add value to operators for developing strategic visions.
Market Overview:
Mobile Broadband Internet Services and WiMAX to Boost Market Prospects
Mobile communications markets in Southern Africa are experiencing high growth, particularly in Zambia. However, operators face challenges such as rising operational costs, declining interconnection charges and capital-intensive infrastructure investments. The deployment of cost-effective mobile technologies such as HSxPA, EDGE, HSPA+ and WiMAX in the near future will help operators to overcome such challenges and achieve economies of scale. South Africa is the leading market in the region in terms of subscribers and revenues, and the market growth is expected to be driven by data services as well as enterprise solutions.
Mobile broadband Internet services paralleled by WiMAX technology will boost market prospects. “Mobile broadband is an effective means to improve the connectivity of Internet services in the rural area due to the lack of fixed-line (copper and fibre) infrastructure,” explains the analyst of this research. “The maturing standards of WiMAX technology may help operators achieve a cost-efficient deployment of next generation mobile technologies since it allows an increasing coverage for the limited amount spectrum available for each operator and supports high-speed mobile data services.”
Operators Ready to Tackle Host of Challenges
The market continues to confront a range of challenges. These include slow regulatory reform and low network coverage in the rural mass market. At the same time, low literacy levels are restraining the demand for data services. “Regulations in the Southern African region have not yet kept pace with technological advancements such as the WiMAX spectrum allocation,” remarks the analyst. “For instance, a new regulatory framework covering unified/converged licensing has not yet been set up in many countries in the region.” Another potential threat to market momentum is that the mobile network coverage remains very limited in the rural area, where over 60.0 per cent of the mass market resides. “Literacy levels in the Southern African region are low,” adds the analyst. “This constrains the uptake of data services as most data services are not yet offered in a user-friendly mode on mobile devices.”
Promisingly, efforts are being made to address these challenges. Before WiMAX regulations are finalised, operators have developed the strategy to deploy similar technologies such as HSxPA and HSPA+, which will be compatible with the other 4G technologies such as WiMAX and LTE for migration in the future when the converged licensing framework is in place. “Fixed-wireless and fibre-optic technologies are alternatives to improve the access to telecommunications in the rural area,” advises the analyst. “Leading operators in the region have engaged in offering community phones which are seen as a substitute for mobile handsets at present.” Strategies to improve literacy levels include training offered by operators to educate mobile subscribers on how to use handset to access data services such as mobile money transfer services.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following countries in this research:
- South Africa
- Zambia
Technology
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
- Global System for Mobiles (GSM)
- 3/3.5G (UMTS, HSxPA, HSPA+)
- Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
- Long term Evolution (LTE)
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