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Research and Markets Adds Report: Senegal - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and ForecastsJan 19, 2011 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Senegal - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts" report to its offerings. In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include: 3G mobile broadband gaining market share despite high prices Senegals economy has grown at 5 percent per annum on average since the mid 1990s and has only moderately been affected by the global economic crisis. Representing around 6 percent of the countrys GDP, the telecom sector is dominated by publicly listed Sonatel, the highly profitable national telco which is now operating under France Telecoms Orange brand following its partial privatisation in 1997. The government is planning to sell part of its remaining stake to other investors. Sonatel has one of the most efficient telecom networks in West Africa, offering some of the lowest retail and wholesale prices in the region, although they are still high by global standards. The company is also the market leader in the mobile sector which it has shared with Millicoms Sentel GSM (later rebranded Tigo) since 1999. Competition in the fixed-line sector was introduced when Sudans Sudatel launched as the second national operator (SNO) in early 2009 under the name Expresso. Its licence also includes the countrys third mobile concession. The new entrant initially chose CDMA2000 technology to serve both market segments but is currently migrating to GSM, including 3G mobile broadband technology. However, the licensing of new operators has not always been transparent in Senegal. Both Sentels and Sudatels licences were awarded under controversial circumstances, and Sentels licence is being challenged by the government. Although mobile market penetration has passed the 60 percent mark, the average revenue per user in Senegal is relatively high. A wide range of value-added services is available to subscribers, including mobile Internet access. Development of the Internet market has been hampered by Sonatels monopolistic pricing of bandwidth on the only high-capacity international submarine fibre optic cable serving the country. Despite this, broadband services in the country are relatively advanced, including broadband TV and converged triple-play services. Sonatel has progressively reduced its prices following the arrival of a second international fibre optic submarine cable in 2007, with two more scheduled for 2011 and 2012. On the retail level, however, some broadband prices have come down in 2010 while others have gone up. Market highlights: -Forecasts to end-2011 for mobile, fixed-line and Internet market; -GDP growth forecast to 2015; -Mobile market penetration has passed 60 percent; -Profiles of major players in all market sectors; -Further government divestiture of Sonatel announced; -Sonatel financial results history; -Update on licence disputes; -3G mobile rollouts; -Internet and broadband pricing trends 2009,; -New international fibre optic submarine cables expected in 2011 and 2012. This annual report provides an overview of trends and developments in Senegals telecommunications market. Subjects covered include: -Key statistics; -Market and industry overviews; -The impact of the global economic crisis; -Government policies affecting the telecoms industry; -Market liberalisation and regulatory environment; -Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband); -Telecoms operators privatisation, acquisitions, new licences; -Consolidation in the mobile sector; -Infrastructure development; -Mobile voice and data markets, including 3G; -Average Revenue per User; -Internet and broadband development and growth; -Broadband and mobile data services and pricing trends; -Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile); -The emergence of m-payment and m-banking services. Report information: researchandmarkets.com/research/ae4c13/senegal_telecoms ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |