Africa has been witnessing the fastest growth in mobile phone services, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
Annual growth in penetration rates in Africa had been almost 20 percent since 2005 and is expected to continue in the coming years, said the survey conducted by GSMA, which represents mobile operators.
By the end of next year, the total number of mobile phones in Africa will reach 738 million, which means nearly three mobiles for every four of its people, according to the survey.
In the mobile phone market, pre-paid subscriptions have grown the most rapidly, accounting for 96 percent of services, said the survey.
Voice services continued to dominate the industry, which generates 56 billion U.S. dollars in revenues, or 3.5 percent of African GDP , said the study.
But the survey predicted that with 3G and 4G networks rolling out, more African users would turn to data usage.
The study also noted that “huge untapped potential” remained because more than one in three people in Africa ’s 25 biggest phone markets still had no access to mobile services.
The current allocations in Africa were much less than Europe , the Americas and Asia , a factor that was stopping mobile coverage getting to rural areas, said the study.
This demonstrates the need for African governments to give more spectrum to mobile services, the study noted.
Source: CoastWeek
Annual growth in penetration rates in Africa had been almost 20 percent since 2005 and is expected to continue in the coming years, said the survey conducted by GSMA, which represents mobile operators.
By the end of next year, the total number of mobile phones in Africa will reach 738 million, which means nearly three mobiles for every four of its people, according to the survey.
In the mobile phone market, pre-paid subscriptions have grown the most rapidly, accounting for 96 percent of services, said the survey.
Voice services continued to dominate the industry, which generates 56 billion U.S. dollars in revenues, or 3.5 percent of African GDP , said the study.
But the survey predicted that with 3G and 4G networks rolling out, more African users would turn to data usage.
The study also noted that “huge untapped potential” remained because more than one in three people in Africa ’s 25 biggest phone markets still had no access to mobile services.
The current allocations in Africa were much less than Europe , the Americas and Asia , a factor that was stopping mobile coverage getting to rural areas, said the study.
This demonstrates the need for African governments to give more spectrum to mobile services, the study noted.
Source: CoastWeek
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