Namibia ? Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband ? 2012 | Market ...

WACS international fibre optic cable sets the stage for a broadband boom

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 estimates to end-2012;
The impact of the global economic crisis;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
Telecoms operators ? privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
Infrastructure development;
Mobile voice and data markets;
Internet and broadband development;
Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile);
3G and 4G (LTE) mobile broadband services and pricing;
Average revenue per user (ARPU).

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 GSM operators ? MTC (managed by Portugal Telecom) and Cell One (renamed Leo by its new owner, Orascom) ? have entered the internet and broadband market with 3G mobile broadband services in a bid to create new revenue streams. MTC introduced fourth generation (4G) technology to the market in May 2012 when it launched an LTE network in the capital, Windhoek. In addition, Telecom Namibia (TN) is offering 3G mobile broadband services using EV-DO technology.

Fixed-line services are still a monopoly of TN, but as a member of the WTO the government plans to open the telecom sector to full competition. TN entered the lucrative mobile market as the third player with a CDMA network but was put on hold by the industry regulator, the Namibian Communications Commission, until a new communications law was enacted which, among other issues, addresses fixed-mobile convergence. Since then, however, the absence of effective regulation during the transition to a new regulatory authority, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, has led to further delays in market liberalisation.

Despite being reasonably competitive with six 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 changed in early 2011 when the WACS cable landed in the country, with services launched in May 2012. In parallel, Namibia is working to diversify its transit access routes via neighbouring countries, but broadband price reductions on the retail level have only been moderate so far.

The country is well prepared for a broadband boom, with 3G and 4G mobile services and a national fibre backbone infrastructure in place. 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 is deregulated.

Market highlights:

LTE fourth generation (4G) mobile services launched;
WACS international submarine fibre optic cable brings more internet bandwidth;
3G mobile broadband prices remain stable following 4G launch;
Market analysis 2012;
Estimates for mobile, fixed-line and internet market to end-2012;
Profiles of major players in all market sectors.

Original Post Namibia ? Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband ? 2012 source Researchmoz Market Research
Namibia Reports

Source: http://www.healthcarestoreonline.com/wiki/namibia-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-2012

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