Madagascar gains link to the MATISS submarine cable
Telecom services in Madagascar have benefited from intensifying competition between the main operators, including Orange Madagascar, Airtel, and the incumbent telco Telma.There have been positive developments with the country's link to international submarine cables, particularly the METISS cable connecting to South Africa and Mauritius. In addition, the country's connection to the Africa-1 cable, expected in late 2023, will provide it with links to Kenya, Djibouti, countries in north and south Africa, as well Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and France.
A national fibre backbone has been implemented connecting the major cities. Telma has progressively expanded the network to reach smaller towns. In addition, the government has progressed with its five-year plan to develop a digital platform running to 2024. Various schemes within the program have been managed by a unit within the President's office.
Penetration rates in all market sectors remain below the average for the African region, and so there remains considerable growth potential. However, much progress was made in 2020, stimulated by the particular conditions related to the pandemic, which encouraged greater use of voice and data services.
Key Developments:
- Airtel Africa partners with Unicef to provide internet services to schools in Madagascar; sells its tower infrastructure to Helios Towers;
- Telma ordered to suspend its 5G service, removes obsolete CDMA lines;
- METISS submarine cable comes into commercial use, connecting Madagascar with South Africa and Mauritius;
- Regulator proposes revision of wholesale internet pricing in a bid to improve competition;
- Madagascar hosts landing station for the Africa-1 cable system;
- Gulfsat Madagascar secures licence to become the second national backbone provider;
- Orange Madagascar completes national LTE-A network upgrade;
- Telecom service tax drops to 8%;
Table of Contents
- Key statistics
- Regional Africa Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI vs GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
- Country overview
- COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
- Telecommunications market
- Market analysis
- Regulatory environment
- Telecommunications reform
- National ICT Policy
- Regulatory authority
- ARTEC
- Fixed-line developments
- Universal Service Fund
- Privatisation
- Mobile network developments
- Spectrum licenses
- SIM card registration
- Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- GPRS/EDGE
- Satellite mobile
- Mobile broadband
- Major mobile operators
- Airtel Madagascar (formerly Madacom, Zain/Celtel)
- Orange Madagascar (formerly SMM)
- Telma Mobile (Telecom Malagasy)
- Madamobil
- Blueline
- Mobile content and applications
- Mobile money transfer, m-banking
- Fixed-line broadband market
- Market analysis
- Broadband statistics
- Public internet access locations
- Data licensees
- Broadband infrastructure
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
- Other fixed-line broadband services
- Fixed network operators
- Telecom Malagasy (Telma)
- Gulfsat Madagascar
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
- Network infrastructure
- National fibre optic backbone
- International infrastructure
- SAFE
- LION
- EASSy
- METISS
- Africa-1
- 2Africa submarine cable
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Related reports
List of Tables
List of Charts
List of Exhibits
Companies Mentioned
- Telecom Malagasy (Telma)
- Airtel Madagascar (Zain, Celtel)
- Orange Madagascar
- Madamobil
- Gulfsat Madagascar (Blueline)
- Datacom
- Data Telecom Services (DTS, Moov)
