In the two decades since the fall of apartheid and the introduction of democratic rule, the South African tourism sector has been a major benefactor of the opening up of the economy and the country’s reintegration with the global community. Foreign arrivals have tripled over this period and the number of hosted meetings recognised by the International Congress and...
The accommodation sector is showing signs of recovery from its post-World Cup slump, appearing its healthiest since 2010 as demand catches up to absorb the excess capacity delivered for the tournament. The swings in the fortunes of hotel properties over the past decade was as much due to volatility in capacity as demand. From 2004 to 2007 there was insufficient stock,...
As with many markets, South Africa’s spectrum allocation is the purview of the government, which controls and regulates the process through the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Operators are increasingly frustrated with the spectrum shortage, pointing to growing consumer demand and government inefficiencies. The government has also been...
Four main mobile operators and two fixed-line players cater to subscribers in a market that – like much of the emerging world – is seeing slowing subscriber growth and price cuts encourage a shift towards new value-added services. The country’s infrastructure remains among the most competitive on the continent, although operators are grappling with mobile termination...
In 2009 the installation of the first undersea cable providing connectivity to South Africa was heralded as the end of satellites as links to the outside world; however, five years later satellite connectivity remains just as relevant given its cost-effectiveness in expanding broadband coverage to rural and low-income areas. According to the 2014 broadband commission...
Operators push regulator to finalise policy on infrastructure sharing Unbundling the loop The country is facing a dilemma when it comes to network sharing. In the telecoms sector, companies that have invested vast sums in network infrastructure are understandably reluctant to allow competitors to piggyback on their investment; however, South Africa’s comparatively high...
Stay updated on how some of the world’s most promising markets are being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what actions governments and private businesses are taking to mitigate challenges and ensure their long-term growth story continues.
Register now and also receive a complimentary 2-month licence to the OBG Research Terminal.
Register Here×