Research and Markets: More Than 10% of Kenya's GDP Now Pass Through the M-Pesa Mobile Banking Service Read More Inside the African Mobile Communications and Mobile Data Markets Report

DUBLIN, Ireland--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/18177b/2008_african_mobil) has
announced the addition of the "2008 African Mobile Communications and Mobile
Data Markets" report to their offering.

Mobile phones represent around 90% of all telephone lines in Africa. The
subscriber base is still growing at around 50% per year, but the growth curves
are beginning to flatten in the continent's more mature markets, forcing
operators to compete more aggressively on price, quality of service and by
introducing new services. However, enormous further potential remains, with
overall market penetration standing at little more than 30%, although the first
African countries have recently broken the 100% barrier.

With their superior national coverage and large subscriber bases, Africa's
mobile network operators have built up a level of market power to the extent
that they have been called "the new incumbents." Newly introduced converged
licensing regimes have increased the competitive pressure in a number of key
markets but also allow the mobile operators to branch out into new service
segments.

Due to Africa's poor fixed-line infrastructure, the mobile networks are
beginning to play an increasing role in Internet service provision, following
the launch of third generation mobile broadband services in a number of markets
- a welcome new revenue stream in an almost entirely prepaid environment of low
average revenue per user levels.

Mobile banking is another emerging key trend that is revolutionising Africa's
financial sector, where only a small percentage of the population has access to
traditional bank accounts.

Key highlights:

* Under a new service-neutral licensing regime, there are now at least ten
networks in Nigeria offering mobile services;
* There are more 3G/HSPA mobile broadband users than ADSL subscribers in South
Africa, mobile data revenue is growing at around 45% pa;
* South African mobile operators are rolling out national fibre optic backbone
networks;
* 3G mobile broadband attained a 25% share of Morocco's broadband market in less
than two years;
* More than 10% of Kenya's GDP now pass through the M-Pesa mobile banking
service, which has more users than there are bank account holders in the
country;
* The mobile operators in the Democratic Republic of Congo claim they generate
30% of the total tax income of the state;
* African mobile operators have taken a world lead role by abolishing
international mobile roaming surcharges;
* Mobile ARPU has bottomed in many markets, rising again with mobile data
services and streamlined operations.

Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Nigeria - 1998 - 2008 Year
Subscribers (Million) Penetration 1998 0.02 0.02% 1999 0.03 0.02% 2000 0.04
0.03% 2001 0.35 0.28% 2002 1.46 1.15% 2003 3.35 2.49% 2004 9.39 6.85% 2005 18.4
13.2% 2006 29.1 20% 2007 41.6 29% 2008 (Mar) 44.4 31%

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may
not be for the current year.

Key Topics Covered:

* ALGERIA
* ANGOLA
* BENIN
* BOTSWANA
* BURKINA FASO
* CAMEROON
* CHAD
* COTE D'IVOIRE
* DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
* EGYPT
* ETHIOPIA
* GABON
* GAMBIA
* GHANA
* GUINEA
* KENYA
* LESOTHO
* LIBERIA
* LIBYA
* MADAGASCAR
* MALAWI
* MALI
* MAURITIUS
* MOROCCO
* MOZAMBIQUE
* NAMIBIA
* NIGERIA
* RWANDA
* SENEGAL
* SIERRA LEONE
* SOUTH AFRICA
* SUDAN
* SWAZILAND
* TANZANIA
* TUNISIA
* UGANDA
* ZAMBIA
* ZIMBABWE
* GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS
* LIST OF TABLES
* LIST OF EXHIBITS

For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/18177b/2008_african_mobil.

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
Fax from USA: 646-607-1907
Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716

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