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Lesotho - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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    Report

  • 104 Pages
  • May 2022
  • Region: Lesotho
  • Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd
  • ID: 4480182

Telecom regulator continues struggle with Vodacom Lesotho opens up market to other operators


The longstanding dispute between the regulator and the two main telcos has had some beneficial effects for the country's consumers. After the regulator tried to revoke Vodafone Lesotho's licence in late 2020, the company fought back and secured a reprieve from the courts. Having considered that one of the difficulties in its relationship with the telco stemmed from its reliance of Vodacom reporting on itself, the regulator in early 2021 secured a system to monitor traffic and billing systems, aimed at protecting consumer rights and safeguarding quality of service.

However, the regulator has also assumed the right to approve appointments to managerial positions made by Vodacom Lesotho or Econet Telecom Lesotho, which has been contested by the operators.

The dispute also encouraged the regulator to make changes to the market more widely. Although technically the telecom sector is open to competition, in effect it has remained a duopoly, with new entrants only having been able to become players on invitation from the regulator. This changed from October 2020, when amendments made to certain rules came into effect, which removed this restriction and allowed any prospective market entrants to apply for a licence. Licensees must provide services within two years.

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
  • Telecommunications market
  • Market analysis

Regulatory environment
  • Regulatory authority
  • Telecommunication Policy of 1999
  • ICT policy 2005
  • Communications Policy 2008
  • National Master Plan
  • Telecommunications Act of 2000
  • Communications Act of 2012
  • National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP)
  • Telecom sector liberalisation
  • Privatisation
  • Licence fees
  • SIM card registration
  • Universal Service Fund (USF)
  • cybersecurity

Mobile market
  • Market analysis
  • Mobile statistics
  • Mobile broadband
  • Mobile infrastructure
  • Major mobile operators
  • Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market
  • Introduction and statistical overview
  • Broadband statistics
  • Fixed-line broadband technologies

Fixed network operator
  • Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL)

Telecommunications infrastructure
  • Overview of the national telecom network
  • International infrastructure

Appendix Historic data
  • Glossary of abbreviations
  • Related reports

List of Tables
  • Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Lesotho 2022 (e)
  • Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
  • Table 3 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
  • Table 4 Growth in the number of Vodacom Lesotho's mobile subscribers 2011 2022
  • Table 5 Growth in the number of Vodacom Lesotho's active data subscribers 2014 2022
  • Table 6 Change in Vodacom Lesotho's mobile ARPU 2011 2022
  • Table 7 Increase in Vodacom Lesotho's revenue 2018 2021
  • Table 8 Growth in the number of ETL's mobile subscribers 2014 2019
  • Table 9 Increase in the number of Vodacom Lesotho's M-Pesa subscribers 2017 2022
  • Table 10 Proportion of households with internet access in Lesotho 2007 2022
  • Table 11 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
  • Table 12 Growth in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2011 2022
  • Table 13 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2027
  • Table 14 Increase in international bandwidth 2011 2020
  • Table 15 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Lesotho 1999 2010
  • Table 16 Historic - Vodacom Lesotho subscribers and churn rate 2002 2010
  • Table 17 Historic - Vodacom Lesotho revenue (ZAR) 2017 2018
  • Table 18 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Lesotho 1999 2010
  • Table 19 Historic - International bandwidth 2001 2010
  • Table 20 Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers 2002 2009
  • Table 21 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2007 2010
  • Table 22 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in Lesotho 1999 2015

    List of Charts

  • Chart 1 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
  • Chart 2 Africa Market Leaders global ranking
  • Chart 3 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
  • Chart 4 Africa Market Challengers global ranking
  • Chart 5 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
  • Chart 6 Africa Market Emergents global ranking
  • Chart 7 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
  • Chart 8 Africa Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
  • Chart 9 Africa Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
  • Chart 10 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Lesotho 2011 2027
  • Chart 11 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
  • Chart 12 Growth in the number of Vodacom Lesotho's mobile subscribers 2011 2022
  • Chart 13 Growth in the number of Vodacom Lesotho's active data subscribers 2014 2022
  • Chart 14 Change in Vodacom Lesotho's mobile ARPU 2011 2022
  • Chart 15 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
  • Chart 16 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2027
  • Chart 17 Increase in international bandwidth 2011 2020

    List of Exhibits

  • Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
  • Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
  • Exhibit 3 Africa Market Leaders and market developments
  • Exhibit 4 Africa Market Challengers and market developments
  • Exhibit 5 Africa Market Emergents and market developments
  • Exhibit 6 Map of Lesotho