Executive Summary

Africa’s cellular market is the fastest-growing in the world, gaining more than 50% in 2002, almost 40% in 2003 and more than 40% in the first three quarters of 2004 alone. The fact that 20 African countries have achieved triple-digit compound annual growth rates (CAGR) for the period 1998-2003 shows that this phenomenal growth is not just short-lived. It is primarily due to the small number and high cost of fixed-line connections, which seldom extend beyond the major urban centres.

In early-2004, the last two countries on the continent, Guinea-Bissau and Eritrea, launched mobile services. As early as 2001, Africa became the first continent as a whole where mobile phones outnumbered fixed telephone lines, which individually is the case in most African countries now. Despite this, owning a mobile phone remains a luxury afforded by less than 8% of Africa’s 840 million people. This compares to only 3% penetration of fixed-line telephony.

The mobile market is open to competition in the majority of the countries, featuring between two and four operators, and it is largely private sector driven. However, developments are still hampered by regulatory environments. Mobile licences frequently require that operators rely on a fixed network operator for interconnection, and relatively few countries allow their mobile operators to operate their own international gateways.

Tariffs are expected to come down once mobile and fixed have an even playing field, including international gateways. Competition has already dramatically reduced mobile tariffs, which are now close to fixed services in some countries.

Africa is experiencing growth rates in Second generation (2G) mobile systems now that much of the rest of the world saw during the nineties, and this growth will continue for some time to come - most African markets are far from reaching saturation points. Unlike the rest of the world, Africa will not experience the painful dip between 2G and 3G deployments that the rest of the world saw in recent years - probably quite in the contrary: The first 3G systems were launched in Africa as early as March 2003 (Code Division Multiple Access - CDMA-2000) and November 2004 (Wave Division Multiple Access - WCDMA), not too far behind their European and American counterparts. And unlike the rest of the world, Africa has the killer application for 3G in store: Internet access. Fixed-line infrastructures are poor and owning a personal computer is out of reach for most Africans. But more and more Africans do own a mobile phone and will embrace the opportunity to access the Internet with 3G phones. Several mobile companies have already positioned themselves as ISPs.

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Mobile communications: A wireless continent
2. OVERVIEW OF THE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS MARKET
2.1 Analysis of Africa’s mobile market
2.1.1 Statistical analysis
2.1.2 More mobiles than fixed lines
2.2 Mobile technologies
2.2.1 Analogue
2.2.2 Digital
2.3 Fixed-mobile convergence
2.3.1 Wireless local loop (WLL)
2.4 Pan-African mobile operators
2.4.1 Celtel International (formerly MSI Cellular Investments)
2.4.2 Econet Wireless International
2.4.3 France Telecom/Orange
2.4.4 Millicom International Cellular
2.4.5 MTN Group Ltd
2.4.6 Orascom Telecom
2.4.7 Vodacom Group (Pty)
2.5 Mobile voice services
2.5.1 Prepaid cards
2.5.2 Satellite mobile
2.6 Mobile data services
2.6.1 Overview
2.6.2 SMS
2.6.3 MMS
2.6.4 GPRS
2.6.5 EDGE
3. ALGERIA
3.1 Overview of Algeria’s mobile market
3.1.1 Mobile statistics
3.1.2 Third mobile licence
3.1.3 Major mobile operators
3.1.4 Third Generation (3G) mobile systems
3.1.5 Satellite mobile
4. ANGOLA
4.1 Overview of Angola’s mobile market
4.1.1 Mobile statistics
4.1.2 Major mobile operators
5. BENIN
5.1 Overview of Benin’s mobile market
5.1.1 Mobile statistics
5.1.2 Major mobile operators
5.1.3 Satellite mobile
6. BOTSWANA
6.1 Overview of Botswana’s mobile market
6.1.1 Mobile statistics
6.1.2 Regulatory issues
6.1.3 Major mobile operators
7. BURKINO FASO
7.1 Overview of Burkina Faso’s mobile market
7.1.1 Mobile statistics
7.1.2 Major mobile operators
8. CAMEROON
8.1 Overview of Cameroon’s mobile market
8.1.1 Major mobile operators
9. CHAD
9.1 Overview of Chad’s mobile market
9.1.1 Major mobile operators
9.1.2 Third mobile licence
9.1.3 Satellite mobile
10. COTE D’IVOIRE
10.1 Overview of Cote d’Ivoire mobile market
10.1.1 Mobile statistics
10.1.2 Major mobile operators
11. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
11.1 Overview of the Democratic Republic of Cogo’s mobile market
11.1.1 GSM licence conditions
11.1.2 Major mobile operators
12. EGYPT
12.1 Overview of Egypt’s mobile market
12.1.1 Telecom Egypt’s mobile deal
12.1.2 Mobile statistics
12.1.3 Regulatory issues
12.1.4 Major mobile operators
12.1.5 Mobile voice services
12.1.6 Mobile data services
13. ETHIOPIA
13.1 Overview of Ethiopia’s mobile market
13.1.1 Major mobile operators
14. GAMBIA
14.1 Overview of Gambia’s mobile market
14.1.1 Mobile statistics
14.1.2 Major mobile operators
15. GHANA
15.1 Overview of Ghana’s mobile market
15.1.1 Mobile statistics
15.1.2 Third-generation mobile
15.1.3 Major mobile operators
15.1.4 Mobile voice services
15.1.5 Mobile data services
16. KENYA
16.1 Overview of Kenya’s mobile market
16.1.1 Mobile statistics
16.1.2 Third mobile network licence
16.1.3 Interconnection
16.1.4 Mobile number portability (MNP)
16.1.5 Equipment Identification Register (EIR)
16.1.6 Major mobile operators
16.1.7 Mobile voice services
17. LESOTHO
17.1 Overview of Lesotho’s mobile market
17.1.1 Mobile statistics
17.1.2 Major mobile operators
18. LIBYA
18.1 Overview of Libya’s mobile market
18.1.1 Second mobile network operator
18.1.2 Satellite mobile
19. MADAGASCAR
19.1 Overview of Madagascar’s mobile market
19.1.1 Major mobile operators
20. MALAWI
20.1 Overview of Malawi’s mobile market
20.1.1 Mobile statistics
20.1.2 Major mobile operators
21. MAURITIUS
21.1 Overview of the Mauritian mobile market
21.1.1 Major mobile operators
21.1.2 3G
22. MOROCCO
22.1 Overview of Morocco’s mobile market
22.1.1 Mobile statistics
22.1.2 Major mobile operators
22.1.3 Mobile voice services
23. MOZAMBIQUE
23.1 Overview of Mozambique’s mobile market
23.1.1 Major mobile operators
24. NAMIBIA
24.1 Overview of Namibia’s mobile market
24.1.1 Major mobile operators
24.1.2 Satellite mobile
25. NIGERIA
25.1 Overview of Nigeria’s mobile market
25.1.1 Market analysis – 2004
25.1.2 Mobile statistics
25.1.3 Growing pains
25.1.4 Mobile tariffs
25.1.5 Regulatory issues
25.1.6 Major mobile operators
25.1.7 Satellite mobile
26. SENEGAL
26.1 Overview of Senegal’s mobile market
26.1.1 Mobile statistics
26.1.2 Major mobile operators
27. SOUTH AFRICA
27.1 Overview of South Africa’s mobile market
27.1.1 Mobile statistics
27.1.2 Liberalisation and licence obligations
27.1.3 Regulatory issues
27.1.4 Mobile handsets
27.1.5 Major mobile operators
27.1.6 Mobile voice services
27.1.7 Mobile data services
27.1.8 Mobile applications
27.1.9 3G
28. SUDAN
28.1 Overview of Sudan’s mobile market
28.1.1 Major mobile operators
28.1.2 Satellite mobile
29. SWAZILAND
29.1 Overview of Swaziland’s mobile market
29.1.1 Major mobile operators
30. TANZANIA
30.1 Overview of Tanzania’s mobile market
30.1.1 Mobile statistics
30.1.2 Major mobile operators
30.1.3 Mobile voice services
31. TUNISIA
31.1 Overview of Tunisia’s mobile market
31.1.1 Mobile statistics
31.1.2 Major mobile operators
31.1.3 3G
31.1.4 Satellite mobile
32. UGANDA
32.1 Overview of Uganda’s mobile market
32.1.1 Mobile statistics
32.1.2 Per second billing
32.1.3 Major mobile operators
32.1.4 Satellite mobile
33. ZAMBIA
33.1 Overview of Zambia’s mobile market
33.1.1 Mobile statistics
33.1.2 Major mobile operators
34. ZIMBABWE
34.1 Overview of Zimbabwe’s mobile market
34.1.1 Mobile statistics
34.1.2 Major mobile operators
34.1.3 Satellite mobile
35. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS


Exhibit 1 – Countries with more than one mobile network – 2004
Exhibit 2 – Vodafone Egypt lists on Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange
Exhibit 3 – EWN ownership battle – 2003 - 2005
Exhibit 4 – Spotlight on Vodacom GSM community phones
Exhibit 5 – The Future of Mobile Solutions and Applications in South Africa
Exhibit 6 – Vodacom’s in and out of Zambia




Table 1 – Top 10 countries by annual growth – September 2004
Table 2 – African mobile subscriber growth – 1998 - 2004
Table 3 – Top 10 African countries by subscribers – September 2004
Table 4 – Orange operations in Africa – September 2004
Table 5 – MTN Group subscribers – September 2004
Table 6 – Orascom Telecom subscribers in Africa – September 2004
Table 7 – Vodacom Group subscribers – September 2004
Table 8 – Mobile subscribers by operator – June 2004
Table 9 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 10 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 11 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 12 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 13 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 14 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 15 – Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 16 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 17 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 18 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 19 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 20 – Mobile subscribers – 2000 - 2004
Table 21 – Tchad Mobile subscribers – 2001 - 2004
Table 22 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 23 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 24 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 25 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 26 – Mobile subscribers by operator – November 2004
Table 27 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 28 – MobiNil subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 29 – Vodafone Egypt subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 30 – Mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2004
Table 31 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 32 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 33 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 34 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 35 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 36 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 37 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 38 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 39 – Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 40 – GSM mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 41 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 42 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 43 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 44 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 45 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 46 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 47 – Mobile subscribers – 1994 - 2004
Table 48 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 49 – Mobile subscribers – 1997 - 2004
Table 50 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 51 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 52 – Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 53 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 54 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 55 – Sonatel Mobiles subscribers – 1999 - 2004
Table 56 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 57 – Mobile subscribers – 1994 - 2004
Table 58 – Vodacom South Africa key statistics – September 2004
Table 59 – MTN South Africa key statistics – September 2004
Table 60 – Prepaid subscribers per operator – September2004
Table 61 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 62 – Mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2004
Table 63 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 64 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 65 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 66 – Mobile subscribers – 1995 - 2004
Table 67 – Tunisiana subscribers 2002 - 2004
Table 68 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 69 – Mobile subscribers – 1996 - 2004
Table 70 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 71 – Mobile subscribers – 1995-2004
Table 72 – Mobile subscribers by operator – September 2004
Table 73 – Mobile subscribers – 1997 - 2004