Uganda - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts

Uganda - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts Publication Overview Executive Summary Table of Contents Publication Overview This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Uganda’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include: One of the most competitive mobile markets in the region; Key statistics; Market and industry overviews; Government policies affecting the telecoms industry; Market liberalisation and regulatory issues; Telecoms operators – privatisation, acquisitions, new licences; Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband); Infrastructure development, including international and domestic fibre; Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G, 4G; Average Revenue per User (ARPU); Infrastructure sharing, tower outsourcing; Internet and broadband development and growth; Broadband pricing – ADSL, WiMAX, WiFi, EV-DO, 3G, 4G (LTE), Metro Ethernet; Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile); Digital media; Mobile money transfer and m-banking services. Researcher:- Peter LangeCurrent publication date:- July 2014 (13th Edition) Executive Summary Seventh network launches amidst consolidation in crowded mobile sector The introduction of mobile telephony has revolutionised Uganda’s telecommunications industry, but with seven networks the market is overcrowded, which has led to a price war and consolidation among the operators. However, not long after the No. 2 in the market (Bharti Airtel) took over the No.4 (Warid Telecom), a new operator (Smart Telecom) launched in March 2014. Two months later, the new No. 4 (Orange) decided to exit the market and sold to Lebanon-based Africell. The price war has accelerated subscriber growth but also reduced the average revenue per user (ARPU) and quality of service (QoS). The network operators started raising their tariffs again and are trying to find ways of generating additional revenue streams. 3G and 4G mobile broadband services as well as mobile money transfer and m-banking services are at the forefront of this development in a country where less than 20% of the population currently has internet access or holds a traditional bank account. Fixed-line and DSL penetration is low but has seen a renaissance on the back of wireless local loop (WLL) rollouts, prepaid services and an increasing demand for broadband access. Fixed GSM and WiMAX in combination with VoIP now make up more than half of the fixed telephony market. Being landlocked, the country depended entirely on satellites for its international connectivity until 2009 when several international submarine fibre optic cables landed on the African east coast. Uganda is now connected via a national fibre backbone extending to its borders with neighbouring coastal countries. By 2013, prices for international bandwidth had fallen to a fraction of their original cost, but retail pricing of broadband services is still relatively expensive, especially when considering purchasing power parity. However, wireless and mobile technologies such as WiMAX, EV-DO, HSPA and LTE are now putting the internet within reach of a much wider part of the population than traditional fixed-line DSL services have in the past. These improvements in infrastructure are revolutionising the market and enabling converged voice, data and digital media services. At around 50%, total teledensity is still below the African average. A simplified and converged licensing regime has significantly reduced barriers to market entry and increased competition. With annual GDP growth forecast to remain stable at around 7% p.a., growth prospects for Uganda’s telecoms sector are excellent. - See more at: http://www.budde.com.au/Research/Uganda-Telec...YDacc.dpuf

http://www.budde.com.au/Research/Uganda-Telec...casts.html