The uptake of mobile services in Africa in the last 10 years has been unprecedented with mobile penetration in most countries exceeding fixed line penetration. South Africa, for so long the flagship state in terms of mobile adoption, rose from 37.6 million mobile subscribers at the end of 2006, to 49.5 million at the end of 2008, and 51.1 million at the end of 2010. Although rising mobile penetration to some extent choked off growth, the South Africa Government requirement for pre-paid users to be registered slowed progress. Mobile penetration in South Africa stood at 77% in 2006 - rising to 96% in 2008, and then plateued for a time, before finally rising again to reach 104% at the end of 2010.
With South Africa's early adoption and growth, it was only a matter of time before it would be caught up. Nigeria in 2006 had just 29.5 million mobile susbribers. By the end of 2008 this had more than doubled to 62.7 million; and by the end of 2010 it had chalked up 84.7 GSM and cdma mobile subscribers (this figure excluding fixed wireless). Market penetration also doubled from 21% in 2006 to 42% in 2008, finishing 2010 at 57%.
It goes without saying that mobile penetration has far exceeded this, even as early as 2004 it was apparent with it standing at around 48 percent, whereas fixed-line at the end of March 2005 was approximately 10.6 percent.
Factbook & Mobile Subscriber Data Download Area
Cote d'Ivore Mobile Factbook 2011
Tanzania Mobile Factbook 2011
The African Mobile Market
Market Overview
Performance Analysis of Attractive Markets and Players
Drivers and Inhibitors
Country Profiles
Egypt
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Tunisia
Other Key Mobile Markets
Company Profiles
Zain
France Telecom
Millicom
MTN
Orascom Telecom
Vodacom
Other Key Operators
Conclusion
