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Limitations of Fixed Line Infrastructure to Create Exciting Growth Opportunity for Mobile Internet in Africa

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 09:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c80482) has announced the addition of "Africa's Mobile Internet Markets: Demand Analysis" to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Africa's Demand for Mobile Internet Access provides a comprehensive overview of current levels of demand for mobile Internet and the various drivers and restraints influencing the provision and adoption of this solution. Industry opportunities and markets that exhibit growth potential are also identified in order to highlight areas where value can be added to mobile Internet offerings in Africa. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following areas: telecommunications markets, regulatory authorities, mobile Internet service providers and infrastructure vendors. The focus is on the various factors affecting both current and future trends in the mobile Internet market and how to leverage prospective growth opportunities.

Market Overview

Limitations of Fixed Line Infrastructure to Create Exciting Growth Opportunity for Mobile Internet in Africa

Mobile Internet is fairly new in Africa, but is anticipated to grow phenomenally as it has become the basis of the last mile connectivity. "The lack of sufficient fixed line infrastructures to meet Africa's broadband demand has led to the emergence of mobile Internet as a key solution to bridge the digital divide and provide last mile connectivity," states the analyst of this research. "It is significantly more cost-effective to deploy than fixed line services, is much cheaper and easier for users to acquire, covers a larger area and is mobile, allowing users access while they are on the move."

Strong government initiatives to grow their economies through the development of the ICT sector in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya are set to facilitate the boom of mobile Internet in these countries. The significant growth in mobile cellular services, particularly in bigger economies such as Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo is creating a platform for the deployment of mobile Internet services. At the same time, small countries such as Rwanda are already offering mobile Internet on CDMA networks, with the launch of WiMax 60e and WiBro technologies imminent in early 2008. Mauritius is leading the continent it terms of advancement in ICT technologies and is the first unwired country in the region. The Mauritian government has adopted an e-governance system and the majority of the population already conducts business online. African markets are moving towards being unwired. However, there remains significant work to be done just to deliver basic affordable telecommunication services to the majority in the region.

Lowering Costs of Internet-enabled Handsets and Developing Telecommunication Infrastructure Critical to Sustained Market Expansion

Despite promising trends, poor telecommunications infrastructure and the high cost of Internet-enabled phones threaten to restrain sustained market expansion.

A majority of Africa's population still finds these services too expensive to use. Limited infrastructure development in some countries has made it difficult for operators to deploy mobile Internet services because of a lack of electricity at various sites and inadequate road networks to access remote areas and service base stations.

"Mobile Internet service providers need to form partnerships with cellular companies as well as technology and infrastructure providers to see how best they can provide cheaper or more affordable handsets that will provide good quality service," advises the analyst. "The major drive by governments to grow the ICT sector creates and opportunity for them to form partnerships with governments across Africa and work out investment plans to improve telecommunications infrastructures so that deployment of such services is not limited by poor infrastructure."

The following technologies are covered in this research:

- GPRS

- EDGE

- CDMA

- W-CDMA

- HSDPA

- WiMAX

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c80482

Source: Business Wire

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