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| Namibia Telecommunications Research |
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 Namibia - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts
Executive summary
Namibia was one of the last countries in Africa to introduce competition in the mobile communications sector when a second network finally launched in 2007. Despite this, the country has achieved a market penetration rate well above the regional average. However, the average revenue per user has more than halved since then. Both operators - MTC (managed by Portugal Telecom) and Cell One (renamed Leo by its new owner, Orascom) - have entered the Internet and broadband market with mobile data services in a bid to create new revenue streams.
Fixed-line services are still a monopoly of Telecom Namibia (TN), but as a member of the WTO the government plans to open the telecom sector to full competition. TN quietly entered the lucrative mobile market as the third player with a CDMA network but was put on hold by the industry regulator until a new Communications law was enacted at the end of 2009 which among other issues addresses fixed-mobile convergence.
Despite being reasonably competitive with seven ISPs, development of Namibia's Internet and broadband sector has been held back by high prices for international bandwidth, caused by the lack of a direct connection to international submarine fibre optic cables. This will change in 2011 when the first such cable is scheduled to land in the country. In the meantime, Namibia is working to diversify its transit access routes via neighbouring countries, but broadband prices on the retail level have gone up recently rather than down.
The country is well prepared for a broadband boom, with national fibre backbone infrastructure being rolled out by at least two companies and the mobile operators upgrading their networks to 3G technology. Several WiMAX and other wireless broadband services offer additional access options and are standing by to bring additional competition to the voice market as well once Internet telephony (VoIP) is deregulated.
Key highlights:
Market analysis 2010;
New Communications Act promulgated;
Telecom Namibia officially becomes third mobile player;
Forecasts for mobile, fixed-line and Internet market to end-2011;
Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
National fibre rollout;
Update on international fibre connections;
Pricing comparison of all broadband services (ADSL, WiMAX, WiFi, EV-DO, 3G mobile);
Mobile ARPU trends 2004-2009.Estimated market penetration rates in Namibia's telecoms sector - end 2010
MarketPenetration rate
Mobile95%
Fixed7%
Internet7%
(Source: BuddeComm based on various sources)
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Namibia's telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:
Key statistics;
Market and industry overviews;
Market forecasts to end-2011;
The impact of the global economic crisis;
Regulatory environment and structural reform;
Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
Infrastructure development;
Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G;
Average Revenue per User (ARPU) trends and analysis;
Internet and broadband development and pricing;
Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecommunications sector in Namibia, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
The impact of the global economic crisis;
Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
Telecoms operators - privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Broadband pricing trends, fixed and wireless;
Mobile data services and pricing, incl. 3G broadband;
Average Revenue per User (ARPU).
Last Update: 9 Jun 2010 Number of Pages: 29
Single User: USD $240.00 ex-GST View Table of Contents
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