African mobile users to hit 800m

Telecoms.com reports.

According to the Standard Bank Group, there were 15 million mobile subscriptions in Africa in 2000; by the end of 2010, there were over 500 million; and by 2015, it is believed there will be almost 800 million.

Research analyst, Simon Freemantle says the five trends driving Africa's economic growth include a larger, younger and more affluent population, Africa's transformational urban swell, technology, the dormant resources potential, and the deepening financial sector, Telecom Paper says.

The Daily Monitor says over the next five years, East and central Africa will enjoy the highest mobile subscription growth rates in the world.

“Already, Nigeria is the world's 10th-largest mobile market,” Freemantle points out.

Three-quarters of the increase is expected to stem from countries including Uganda, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Kenya and Ghana.

In Uganda, the recent price wars saw mobile subscriptions rise to 12.8 million in December 2010, up from 9.3 million in 2009, according to data from the Uganda Communications Commission.