T
elecoms
Taking a
gabyte out of the
competition Airtel is redefining the data experience in Nigeria and is reaping the rewards – including a 92 percent increase in its internet customer base. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Donovan Smith
ur pages are littered with investment opportunities. Whether it is opportunities in Kenya’s insurance market or new mines in Namibia, we’ve pretty much covered it all within the pages of Africa Outlook over the past six months. Investors are definitely excited by what Africa has to offer. And they are particularly excited about opportunities that exist within the telecoms sector. To quote the UK’s BT, “it’s good to talk”. Nigeria is one market causing quite the stir and according to U.S.-based research firm Pyramid Research, the rate of growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry and a large population are parameters that will continue to make the country one of the most attractive markets to investors in Africa and the Middle East. Pyramid Research is a company that provides international market analysis and consulting services to the communications industry and its study took a five-year look at the country’s telecommunications sector returns, saying that demand profile in the country, both for voice and data services, is high and by far, the largest in Africa. It also identified the sound regulatory regime put in place by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator, as a key factor bringing about and sustaining the growth potential. One of the country’s leading mobile telecommunication services providers is Airtel, a firm that has seen its fortunes transformed and is now close to becoming Nigeria’s second-biggest mobile phone company. Nigeria accounts for 35 percent of Airtel’s sales in Africa. Its market share in the country is now at 20.2 percent. Continued
www.aFRICAoutlookmag.com
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