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Africa & Middle East Mobile Operator Statistics

Africa & Middle East Subscriber Totals 1Q06 - 2Q09 | Africa Mobile Operators by Affiliation | Mobile Operator Performance by Ownership | Africa Mobile Penetration | Africa Mobile Subscriber Growth q-o-q

At the start of the first quarter 2008 there were some 158 mobile operators known to have live networks in Africa. Of these 97 (61 percent) are affiliated in some way with major international telecommunciations groups e.g. Zain, MTN, Vodafone, et al.

Africa & Middle East Mobile Subscribers & % q-o-q growth 1Q 2006 - 2Q 2009

Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2009 Blycroft Ltd

Blycroft estimates that there will be some 415.3 million mobile subscribers in Africa at the end of July 2009; up from 320.8 million in the same period in 2008, and representing growth of some 29 percent. This compares to the Middle East, which, including Turkey and Afghanistan, will have some 243.7 million subscribers at the end of 2Q 2009, up from 199.6 million in the same period 2008, and representing annual growth of 22 percent.

African Mobile Operators by Affiliation

Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2008 Blycroft Ltd

In 1Q 2006 there were some 147.4 million mobile subscribers in Africa; and by 1Q 2008 the number had risen to 301.7 million. The networks affiliated with international telecommunications operators accounted for some 88 percent of all mobile subscribers in 1Q 2008. However, although some groups have demonstrated spectacular growth, the overall 'group' performance shows that the non-affiliated sector has achieved greater growth, albeit from a much smaller base. So in 1Q 2006 there were some 131.6 million subscribers affiliated with the larger international operators, which has risen to 134.71 million in 1Q 2008; an increase of 102 percent. The non-affiliated sector had some 15.82 million subscribers in 1Q 2006, which has risen to 35.37 million in 1Q 2008, representing growth of 124 percent.

African Mobile Ownership by Type

Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2008 Blycroft Ltd

Mobile penetration in 1Q 2006 stood at some 16 percent, and many analysts thought that growth in Africa woud be unlikely to exceed 20 -25 percent. However, by 1Q 2008 mobile penetration had achieved a satisfactory 32 percent. So far mobile penetration has enjoyed consistant growth over the last eight quarters. If this growth continued then Africa would achieve 100 percent mobile penetration by 2012. Whist this would be a very desirable state, it is unlikely, as there are a number of barriers to growth which still have to be addressed in the wider market.

African Mobile Penetration

Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2008 Blycroft Ltd

So whilst the number of new mobile subscribers has been generally upward over the last eight quarters, the number of net additions in 1Q 2008 suggests a slacking of the recent hectic pace, whilst the percentage growth rate shows a clear slowing quarter-on-quarter, although this is to be expected as the subscriber case matures.

African Mobile Subscriber Growth quarter-on-quarter

Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2008 Blycroft Ltd

Blycroft researches and analyses mobile subscriber trends by operator and by state in each weekly issue of Africa & Middle East Telecom Week. You can now access this data for your own management briefings and internal forecasts. Just browse down the list below and make your selection(s). Your selected data will be e-mailed to you.

Quarter 2 2009 data | Quarter 1 2009 data | Quarter 4 2008 data | Quarter 3 2008 data | Quarter 2 2008 data | Sample Data

Quarter 2 2009 data (as at 30 June 2009):

East Mediterranean states Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
North Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
East Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
South Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
West Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Africa & Middle East African Top 50 Mobile
Operators by Subscribers: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Top 50 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 

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Quarter 1 2009 data (as at 31 March 2009):

East Mediterranean states Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
North Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
East Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
South Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
West Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Africa & Middle East African Top 50 Mobile
Operators by Subscribers: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Top 50 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 

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Quarter 4 2008 data (as at 31 December 2008):

East Mediterranean states Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
North Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
East Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
South Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
West Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Africa & Middle East African Top 50 Mobile
Operators by Subscribers: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Top 50 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 

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Quarter 3 2008 data (as at 30 September 2007):

East Mediterranean states Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
North Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
East Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
South Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
West Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Africa & Middle East African Top 50 Mobile
Operators by Subscribers: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Top 50 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 

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Quarter 2 2008 data (as at 30 May 2008):

East Mediterranean states Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
North Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
East Africa States Mobile Network
Subscriber Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
South Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
West Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Central Africa Mobile Network Operator
Statistics: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Africa & Middle East African Top 50 Mobile
Operators by Subscribers: PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Top 50 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators by Subscribers:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
African Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 
 
Middle East Markets by Mobile Penetration:
PDF Single User
 £ 19 

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Sample Data

Bahrain Mobile Operators 1Q 2006 - 4Q 2007: Mobile Subscribers & Mobile Penetration></center></p>
<p>Source: Industry data & estimates c. 2009 Blycroft Ltd</p>

<p><b><font FACE=
Middle East Mobile Group Market Share 1Q 2007

Middle East Mobile Group Market Share 1Q 2007

Middle East Group Growth 1Q 2006 - 4Q 2007

Source: industry sources, Blycroft estimates c. Blycroft 2007

Blycroft's mobile operator subscriber database permits the presentation of the data in a variety of ways to allow readers to discern emerging trends and longer term developments. In this analysis we looked at Middle East Mobile Group Market Share as at 1Q 2007. For this analysis we show the full subscriber numbers for each individual operator that forms part of a Group. By way of illustration, Zantel’s subscriber base is attributed in full to Etisalat, on the basis that although Etisalat has a minority holding, it is the largest stakeholder. In recognition of its market position, and also to avodi the ‘double counting’of subscribers, Vodacom is shown as a Group, despite a significant stake in the business being held by Vodafone.

This data can be reworked to show the equity interest, and so allow readers to highlight the major acquisitions and disposals of equity on a quarterly basis. This enables the tracking of investment strategies of the main investors within the market.

A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS:

Gulf States Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 1Q 2006

Blycroft’s Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics for the Gulf States cover 10 countries and 44,379,215 subscribers.

Mobile subscribers in the Middle East Gulf States by country

Country

Subscribers 1Q 06

Regional Share %

Afghanistan

1,130,000

3%

Bahrain

808,000

2%

Iran

9,190,211

21%

Iraq

5,839,638

13%

Kuwait

2,425,055

5%

Oman

1,601,500

4%

Qatar

800,000

2%

Saudi Arabia

15,518,706

35%

UAE

4,766,105

11%

Yemen

2,300,000

5%

     

Regional Total

44,379,215

100%

Source: Blycroft Ltd

Copyright 2006 Blycroft Ltd

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Blycroft Limited, 

PO Box 2 
Craven Arms 
SY7 9WL 
United Kingdom 
Tel: +44 (0)870-241 4505 
Fax: +44 (0)1494 778994

Blycroft Ltd., Registered in England and Wales No. 3666284
Registered Office: 2a Alton House Office Park, Gateway House, Aylesbury, HP19 3XU, UK
VAT No. GB 697 9253 64




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