On September 3, 2014, the Egyptian government approved the activation of unified fixed-line and mobile telecoms licences after years of discussion. The National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) hopes to have a telecoms sector with four players holding identical unified licences, allowing them to provide both mobile and fixed-line services in a market that will be...
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...
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...
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...
The ICT sector is growing rapidly in terms of numbers connected, speeds attained and services provided. The industry as a whole is by far the largest and most sophisticated on the continent, contributing around 6% to GDP. Robust growth has benefitted in part from strong government support and high levels of corporate consumption; however, it has also faced challenges...
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