Test Management Featured Article

With mobile telephony and broadband connectivity expanding rapidly in South Africa, telecommunications has taken on a brand new look. Its network is 99.9 percent digital and includes the latest in fixed-line, wireless and satellite communication. According to Frost& Sullivan, as industry players upgrade second- and third-generation networks to fourth-generation technology, the demand for electronic test equipment in the telecoms sector is bound to show an upward trend.

The study, which focused on electronic test equipment like oscilloscopes, spectrum and logic analyzers power meters and more, underscored how they served different purposes in different sectors of industry, and enumerated the reasons for the growth of the test equipment market.

It noted that although South Africa is stated to have the most developed telecoms network in Africa, the signal strength is very poor, resulting in poor quality of service. Telecom operators are hence looking to use spectrum analysers to improve this.

In the education sector, electronic equipment is used by technical researchers and PhD students and as their numbers are only increasing, it is but natural that the electronic equipment testing market will also gain momentum. Hence, research analyst, Janani Balasundar observed that electronic test equipment with the required functionalities must find their way into the market.

Apart from the educational sector, heavy infrastructural investments in many industries and security investments in the aerospace and defense industry will, according to the research firm, ensure that there is growing demand for signal generators, power meters, spectrum and network analyzers. 

Many other sectors across industry also use such electronic equipment, and as this need increases, market players will have to be ready with relevant electronic test equipment.

South Africa is a trading partner to several neighboring sub-Saharan countries, and one would expect to see vigorous growth there; however, the poor economic condition and unstable currency of that region are bottlenecks that could dampen the market.

Balasundar suggests that vendors should alter their strategies a little so that they can make the best out of this situation.

"Electronic test equipment vendors should focus on fast-developing countries like Ghana and Nigeria, where there is great market potential," advised Balasundar, and added, "They must also constantly make end users aware of the latest technologies in the test and measurement industry to strengthen their market position across Africa."

Notwithstanding present conditions, research analysts forecast that the market that stood at $28.3 million in 2013 will reach $47.5 million in 2019.