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Unified Messaging and Communications Markets in South Africa
Frost & Sullivan, Dec 2007, Pages: 73
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Unified Messaging and Communications Market in South Africa provides a comprehensive overview of current levels of demand for unified communication (UC) solutions. The study includes the key drivers and restraints that are influencing the market. In addition, industry opportunities and the markets that demonstrate growth potential are also identified. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: enterprise software applications, service providers’ platforms and solutions as well as UC services.
Market Overview
Increased Workforce Productivity and Cost Optimisation Drive Demand for Unified Communications
The unified messaging and communications market in South Africa is currently in the development stage. However, there is significant potential for high growth in the market. Increased workforce productivity, cost optimisation and improved workforce mobility are the key benefits that are luring organisations as well as individuals to adopt unified communications (UC) solutions.
'Given these benefits and the range of factors influencing people to work off-site, the industry appears to be well positioned for an increase in the demand for UC solutions,' notes the analyst of this research service. 'Apart from providing seamless control and access across multiple devices, UC is also unifying the field in which industry participants operate.'
Consolidation to Alleviate Issues Related to Shortage of Skills
There is high market potential among corporates, startup companies as well as mobile and Internet users. Specifically, corporates are the early adopters of new technologies when compared to the other groups. The type of environment in which a corporate operates requires integration of its widespread offices and the mobile workforce. While Internet users can gain a quick understanding of UC solutions since they have already been introduced to it in one way or the other, the UC mass consumer market is likely to emerge from the mobile industry. Meanwhile, the 2010 FIFA World Cup will provide an opportunity for increased demand. Industry participants investing in infrastructure in order to take advantage of this event will most likely increase their revenue base. While the event will be short-lived, the infrastructure will continue to be useful in providing UC solutions to the mass consumer market over the long term.
The implementation of UC is moving towards IP network standards. In this kind of structure, broadband plays a key role in providing the required bandwidth to facilitate effective communication. Here, the high cost of broadband is a major challenge that UC providers will need to overcome in order to provide clients with a service that meets their requirements. Moreover, the existing shortage of skills is a significant restraint that is hindering faster UC installations. However, consolidation among market participants will help to overcome this restraint.
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- New Generation Network (NGN)
- Session Initiation Protocol: This is a signaling protocol used to establish sessions with one or more participants in an IP Network environment.
- Internet Protocol (IP): A series of rules for communication among computers over the Internet.
- Private Branch Exchange (PBX): It is a switch station for telephone systems. It consists of several branches of telephone systems. A PBX controls this by switching connections and routing calls to the appropriate line.
- Third Generation (3G)
- Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC): This is a term used to describe integration of mobile phone services to a fixed line infrastructure.
- Broadband
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