ICT

Despite fierce competition in a crowded market, Saudi Arabia’s telecoms sector should see continued growth, driven largely by the expanding mobile internet and fixed broadband segments, according to recent reports from local investment groups. The Kingdom’s tech-savvy, high-income, younger generation, in particular, is earmarked to play a major part in boosting spending on data services and related products.

Competition on call-pricing packages continues to be a major feature of the South African mobile market, although data services are taking on an increasingly significant role this year, one that is expected to grow in the short to medium term.

Despite achieving record growth in 2012, telecoms operators in the UAE have seen their profit margins affected by a new royalties programme introduced by the federal government. However, surging demand in Dubai for the latest mobile devices, particularly smartphones and tablets, as well as a more diversified range of value-added services, should result in in even greater growth and profitability in the coming years.

Having kept a tight lid on access to information for many years, Myanmar is now opening its doors to new technologies, bringing a tidal wave of social empowerment. However, quality control both in terms of technology and content is likely to be the main challenge going forward.

The government is reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to the planned expansion of its broadband infrastructure, in the hopes of spurring new development in technology-based industries. ICT has grown rapidly in Egypt over the past decade, both in terms of take-up by Egyptian consumers and outsourcing and offshoring activity.

Following the launch of Malaysia’s first long-term evolution (LTE) mobile telephone network in January, this year should see a rush to market as major operators look to expand their data earnings. The rollout of new technologies and products offered by telecoms firms in Malaysia is in line with growth in the region, which has ambitions to become a global leader in mobile broadband access.