FEATURED COMPANIES
- Broadband InfraCo
- eFive
- iBurst (WBS, Blue Label)
- SEACOM
- Telkom (Heita, 8ta)
- Virgin Mobile
South Africa's telecom sector boasts one of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent. There is has been considerable investment from Telkom, Liquid Telecom South Africa, Broadband InfraCo and municipal providers as well as from mobile network operators all aimed at improving network capabilities. The focus in recent years has been on backhaul capacity and on fibre and LTE networks to extend and improve internet service connectivity. With the ongoing migration to fibre, the incumbent telco Telkom expects to close down its copper network in 2024.
The poor historic availability and level of service of fixed-line networks encouraged the growth of the mobile sector for both voice and data services and this segment continues to command most investment and effort among telcos. Under a converged regulatory regime many alternative service providers have been able to enter the market to offer a range of services. This regime also encouraged the major mobile network operators to move into the fixed-line and fibre sector.
Other key regulatory matters aimed at shaping the market include the licensing of LTE spectrum in several bands. A multi-spectrum auction has been delayed since late 2016 and this has caused some difficulties for network operators gearing up to launch 5G services. The regulator planned to auction additional spectrum to operators in December 2020, enabling licensees to extend the existing services (based on trial licenses) introduced to manage the spike in data traffic resulting from the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The publisher notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key Developments:
- Telkom enters the mobile financial services sector; MTN South Africa relaunches m-money service;
- Rain launches standalone 5G network in Cape Town;
- Regulator to auction additional 5G spectrum in December 2020;
- Telkom's fibre infrastructure passing close to three million premises;
- Comsol starts 5G fixed-wireless trials using spectrum in the 28MHz band;
- Regulator sets MTRs through to October 2020;
The report update includes the regulators the regulators March 2020 report on the ICT sector, operator data to June 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
Companies mentioned in this report:
Vodacom, MTN (MTN Network Solutions), Cell C, Telkom (Heita, 8ta), Virgin Mobile, Neotel, Atlantic Internet Services, Business Connexion, Internet Solutions, Verizon Business, MWEB, Vox Telecom (DataPro), Sentech, iBurst (WBS, Blue Label), Liquid Telecom South Africa (Neotel, Tata), Virgin Mobile, Broadband InfraCo, Transtel, Eskom, SEACOM, Transtel, Eskom, SITA, Sentech, Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), FibreCo, eFive, WASACE.
FEATURED COMPANIES
- Broadband InfraCo
- eFive
- iBurst (WBS, Blue Label)
- SEACOM
- Telkom (Heita, 8ta)
- Virgin Mobile
2 Regional Market Comparison
2.1 TMI vs GDP
2.2 Mobile and mobile broadband
2.3 Fixed and mobile broadband
3 Country overview
4 COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
4.1 Economic considerations and responses
4.2 Mobile devices
4.3 Subscribers
4.4 Infrastructure
5 Telecommunications market
5.1 Market analysis
6 Regulatory environment
6.1 Historical overview
6.2 Regulatory authority
6.3 Fixed line developments
6.4 Mobile network developments
7 Mobile market
7.1 Mobile statistics
7.2 Mobile voice (VoLTE/Wi-Fi calling)
7.3 Mobile data
7.4 Mobile broadband
7.5 Mobile infrastructure
7.6 Major mobile operators
7.7 Mobile content and applications
8 Fixed-line broadband market
8.1 Market analysis
8.2 Community access projects
8.3 Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA)
8.4 Internet Exchange Points (IXP)
8.5 Broadband statistics
8.6 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
8.7 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
8.8 Other fixed broadband services
8.9 Digital economy
9 Fixed network operators
9.1 Telkom
9.2 Neotel
10 Telecommunications infrastructure
10.1 Overview of the national telecom network
10.2 National fibre infrastructure
10.3 International submarine cables
10.4 Satellite
10.5 Next Generation Networks (NGN)
10.6 Municipal networks
11 Data centres
12 Smart infrastructure
12.1 Smart cities
13 Appendix Historic data
14 Glossary of abbreviations
15 Related reports
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities South Africa 2020 (e)
Table 2 Change in the proportion of households with telecom service by type 2014 2018
Table 3 Development of Telecom sector investment 2015 2019
Table 4 Development of telecom sector investment by sector 2015 2019
Table 5 Development of telecom sector revenue by service 2015 2019
Table 6 Development of total telecom and broadcasting revenue 2015 2019
Table 7 Change in fixed revenue by type 2015 2019
Table 8 Development of mobile sector revenue 2015 2019
Table 9 Change in mobile revenue by sector 2015 2019
Table 10 Development of mobile prepaid revenue by type 2015 2019
Table 11 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 12 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019
Table 13 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2015 2019
Table 14 Decline in SMS traffic 2013 2020
Table 15 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2025
Table 16 Increase in the number of Telkom's mobile broadband subscribers by type 2015 2019
Table 17 Growth in Telkom's mobile broadband revenue 2015 2020
Table 18 Growth in Telkom's mobile data traffic 2015 2020
Table 19 Growth in overall mobile data traffic 2015 2019
Table 20 Growth in the number of mobile data subscribers 2015 2019
Table 21 Telkom LTE subscribers 2016 2018
Table 22 Development of 4G (WiMAX/LTE) population coverage 2012 2019
Table 23 Development of 3G population coverage 2015 2019
Table 24 Growth in the number of M2M connections 2015 2019
Table 25 Development of Vodacom South Africa's mobile revenue 2010 2021
Table 26 Growth in the number of Vodacom South Africa's subscribers and market share 2010 - 2020
Table 27 Change in the number of Vodacom South Africa's prepaid and contract subscribers 2017 - 2020
Table 28 Growth in the number of Vodacom South Africa's mobile data subscribers 2013 2020
Table 29 Development of Vodacom South Africa's mobile ARPU 2017 2020
Table 30 Change in the number of MTN South Africa's mobile subscribers and market share 2010 2019
Table 31 Change in the number of MTN South Africa's prepaid, contract subscribers 2013 2019
Table 32 Development of MTN South Africa's financial data 2012 2019
Table 33 Development of MTN South Africa's mobile ARPU 2013 2019
Table 34 Change in the number of Cell C mobile subscribers 2013 2019
Table 35 Growth in Cell C's mobile service revenue 2013 2019
Table 36 Increase in Cell C's mobile data revenue 2017 2018
Table 37 Development of Cell C's financial data 2016 2019
Table 38 Growth in the number of Telkom's mobile subscribers 2009 2019
Table 39 Growth in the number of Telkom's prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019
Table 40 Development of Telkom's mobile financial data 2014 - 2020
Table 41 Change in Telkom's mobile ARPU 2014 2020
Table 42 National Broadband Policy penetration targets to 2030
Table 43 Change in fixed internet revenue by type 2015 2019
Table 44 Development of the Schools Connected program 2016 2019
Table 45 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 46 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by type 2015 - 2019
Table 47 Growth in the number of Telkom's broadband subscribers 2010 2019
Table 48 Growth in Telkom's fixed data traffic 2014 2020
Table 49 Change in the number of Telkom's DSL subscribers by type 2016 2019
Table 50 Change in Telkom's fixed copper and fibre broadband subscribers 2017 2019
Table 51 Increase in the number of Telkom South Africa's fibre ports 2017 2019
Table 52 Telkom South Africa fibre premises passed 2016 2019
Table 53 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2013 2019
Table 54 Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers 2017 2019
Table 55 Development of Telkom Group's financial results 2010 2020
Table 56 Change in Telkom Group's capex by type 2017 2020
Table 57 Development of Telkom's data revenue 2010 2020s
Table 58 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025
Table 59 Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type 2015 2019
Table 60 Decline in fixed-line voice traffic 2015 2019
Table 61 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2014 2019
Table 62 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in South Africa 1999 2009
Table 63 Historic - Vodacom South Africa subscribers and market share 2002 - 2009
Table 64 Historic - MTN South Africa subscribers and market share 2002 2009
Table 65 Historic - Average internet access speed 2010 2015
Table 66 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in South Africa 1999 2015
Table 67 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2002 2009
Table 68 Historic -Telkom South Africa broadband subscribers 2003 2009
Table 69 Historic - Telkom fixed broadband subscribers by type 2016 2018
Table 70 Historic - Telkom South Africa WiMAX subscribers 2008 2014
Table 71 Historic - Telkom data revenue 2002 2009
Table 72 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in South Africa 2000 2009
Table 73 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2000 2013
List of Charts
Chart 1 Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 2 Southern Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 Africa Top-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Leaders)
Chart 5 Southern Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 Southern Africa fixed broadband and mobile broadband penetration rates
Chart 7 Change in the proportion of households with telecom service by type 2014 2018
Chart 8 Development of telecom sector investment by sector 2015 2019
Chart 9 Development of telecom sector revenue by service 2015 2019
Chart 10 Change in fixed revenue by type 2015 2019
Chart 11 Change in mobile revenue by sector 2015 2019
Chart 12 Development of mobile prepaid revenue by type 2015 2019
Chart 13 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 14 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019
Chart 15 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2015 2019
Chart 16 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2025
Chart 17 Increase in the number of Telkom's mobile broadband subscribers by type 2015 2019
Chart 18 Development of 4G (WiMAX/LTE) population coverage 2012 2019
Chart 19 Development of Vodacom South Africa's mobile revenue 2010 2021
Chart 20 Change in the number of Vodacom South Africa's prepaid and contract subscribers 2017 - 2020
Chart 21 Change in the number of Vodacom South Africa's prepaid and contract subscribers 2013 - 2020
Chart 22 Development of Vodacom South Africa's mobile ARPU 2017 2020
Chart 23 Change in the number of MTN South Africa's mobile subscribers and market share 2010 2019
Chart 24 Change in the number of MTN South Africa's prepaid, contract subscribers 2013 2019
Chart 25 Development of MTN South Africa's financial data 2012 2019
Chart 26 Development of MTN South Africa's mobile ARPU 2013 2019
Chart 27 Development of MTN South Africa's mobile ARPU 2013 2019
Chart 28 Development of Cell C's financial data 2016 2019
Chart 29 Growth in the number of Telkom's prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019
Chart 30 Development of Telkom's mobile financial data 2014 - 2020
Chart 31 Change in Telkom's mobile ARPU 2014 2020
Chart 32 Change in fixed internet revenue by type 2015 2019
Chart 33 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 34 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by type 2015 - 2019
Chart 35 Growth in the number of Telkom's broadband subscribers 2010 2019
Chart 36 Growth in Telkom's fixed data traffic 2014 2020
Chart 37 Change in the number of Telkom's DSL subscribers by type 2016 2019
Chart 38 Change in Telkom's fixed copper and fibre broadband subscribers 2017 2019
Chart 39 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2013 2019
Chart 40 Development of Telkom Group's financial results 2014 2020
Chart 41 Change in Telkom Group's capex by type 2017 2020
Chart 42 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025
Chart 43 Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type 2015 2019
Chart 44 Decline in fixed-line voice traffic 2015 2019
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 Southern Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 2Africa submarine cable
Exhibit 4 2Africa landing stations
- Vodacom
- MTN (MTN Network Solutions)
- Cell C
- Telkom (Heita, 8ta)
- Virgin Mobile
- Neotel
- Atlantic Internet Services
- Business Connexion
- Internet Solutions
- Verizon Business
- MWEB
- Vox Telecom (DataPro)
- Sentech
- iBurst (WBS, Blue Label)
- Liquid Telecom South Africa (Neotel, Tata)
- Virgin Mobile
- Broadband InfraCo
- Transtel
- Eskom
- SEACOM
- Transtel
- Eskom
- SITA
- Sentech
- Dark Fibre Africa (DFA)
- FibreCo
- eFive
- WASACE
