According to latest industry statistics Nigeria is now the leading telecommunications market in Africa.
Taking the spot from Vodacom South Africa, which has been the leading operator in the African mobile market for the last few years, MTN Nigeria is now the largest African operator in one of the fastest growing markets on the continent.
Africa’s mobile market industry has expanded remarkably since the early 2000’s when cellular phones were introduced into major markets.
According to the report by Ovum Research & Consultancy mobile phone users in Africa went up by 20% from 2008 to 2009, representing an impressive increase of 75 million new subscribers in a single year.
According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, markets in West Africa in particular have seen tremendous growth as a result of increased competition in the industry. This has not only been driven by predominant operator’s network plans, but also encouraged by liberalised regulatory conditions and policies.
The limited presence of fixed lines, frequently a result of unreliable government services, has also created a favourable climate for mobile communications to rise.
Other markets which are known to be rapidly developing in Africa include Ghana’s Zain and Cote d’Ivoire’s Green, Kenya’s EKTL and Etisalat Misr in Egypt.
The upsurge of mobile communications in Africa is seen to be opening several emergent opportunities while remodelling the world of business and development on the continent.
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