The world might be in recession but the African telecommunications sector continues to boom, fuelled by privatisations, liberalisation, new cell-phone services and infrastructure projects - some funded by the World Bank, African Development Bank and other agencies, but more funded by innovative entrepreneurs in partnership with international telecoms companies..
Although cable connections across many African countries are in a poor state of repair or non-existent, the continent is slowly being connected to the global community through five undersea cable projects, three of which are due for completion in 2009.
The African cell-phone sector is the fastest growing in the world, with subscription growth between 2007 and 2008 at 41% annually. Cell phones currently account for 90% of telephone subscribers in Africa. At the beginning of 2008, there were 300 million mobile subscribers on the continent.
Mobile subscribers in Africa are also now more evenly distributed. In 2000, South Africa accounted for more than half of all Africa�s mobile subscribers. By 2007, however, almost 85 per cent were in other countries.
One of the reasons for the high growth rate of mobile subscribers is the lack of an affordable, efficient fixed line infrastructure. Wireless is thus the solution of choice and is making fixed line upgrade projects largely redundant. Mobile network operators have stepped in, providing not only voice communication but, with the launch of third generation (3G) services in a number of mobile phone markets, playing a considerable role in internet service provision.
While a number of satellite based services are already in operation above the continent, in September 2008 Google announced the successful launch of its new satellite, which can capture images from 423 miles above the Earth and travel at about 4.5 miles per second. Also in 2008, Google and a number of partners announced a Linux-based open development software platform for mobile phones which they expect will pry the telecom industry open and merge it with the Internet.
Broadband penetration has traditionally been low across the continent, with access being limited to urban areas. Access is, however, becoming more widely available, with the number of fixed broadband subscriptions passing the 2 million mark in early 2008.
On the regulatory front, governments still own monopoly fixed line operators in most countries. However, for the most part there is competition in the cell-phone sector, mostly with international network operators in partnership with local investors and entrepreneurs. International players with major investment on the African continent include MTN, Vodacom, MTC (Zain), Vodafone, Orascom, France Telecom, MIC, Etisalat and Portugal Telecom.
Navigation through this website is easy. The simplest way to find the information you are looking for is to type one or more keywords in the Search Box at the top right-hand corner of each page, and press enter. MBendi�s search facility will bring up a list of all pages related to your query.
Alternatively, a more structured approach is to use the drop-down menus at the top of the page. These provide lists of other topics related to the page that you are on at the time. You will be able to access more information on industries, countries, companies, personalities and projects that tie in with the page that you are on. .
Do you want to reach the people that count in the African Telecommunications and IT industries?
/mbendipr/services/advertising.htm provides more information.
Here are some examples of how decision makers have used the MBendi website and E-mail news services to pursue opportunities in the African telecommunications and IT sector:
Major International Finance Agency shortlist suppliers:
MBendi was approached by the agency to prepare a short-list of telecommunications suppliers to support the agency�s 30 African offices. MBendi did this by advertising the opportunity on the website, in the monthly MBendi E-mail newsletter and in an E-mail sent to all the IT companies on the MBendi website. Working with African research partners, Whitehouse & Associates, who also had a database of potential suppliers, a short-list of interested suppliers was drawn up in a short time. Client feedback indicates the project met its needs.
Mining Company - entering African Country:
A major North American mining company, having taken over a smaller company with a highly prospective project in Africa, used the MBendi website to investigate how to conduct business in the African country where the project was located. Having accessed MBendi�s page on the country, it then viewed the advertorial provided by one of our clients and E-mailed the client asking how the client could provide computer services to the proposed new mining operation.
Drilling Company African business plan:
The newly appointed head of the African arm of an American offshore drilling company prepared his business plan from the MBendi website. He was able to identify countries in which to operate; target potential clients; understand the regimes; and select professional service providers in each country.
Satellite Communications Company:
The head of a satellite communications company reported finding three leads in the first two weeks after subscribing to MBendi's E-mail African Business news service.
