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| Cameroon Telecommunications Research |
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 Cameroon - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts
Executive summary
An underperforming market set to catch up
This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Cameroon's telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:
Key statistics;
Market and industry overviews;
The growth potential of the country's mobile market;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
Telecoms operators - privatisation, acquisitions, new licences;
Infrastructure development;
Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).
Internet and broadband development and growth;
Mobile data services and pricing;
Average revenue per user.Cameroon's economic growth has lagged behind other countries in the region which is mirrored by the development of its telecommunications sector. It is one of only a few countries in Africa left with only two competing mobile networks, MTN and Orange. The re-entry into the mobile market by fixed-line incumbent Camtel as the third player has been delayed by controversy regarding its licence.
The result is a mobile market penetration rate that is below the African average and also below that of other countries with similar GDP per capita levels. Third generation (3G) mobile service has still not been introduced apart from Camtel's EV-DO fixed-wireless service. Fixed-line penetration is extremely low, and the privatisation of Camtel's fixed-line business has failed several times.
Mirroring a trend throughout developing markets, the average revenue per user in Cameroon's mobile sector has fallen continuously as lower income groups gain access to services. The operators are trying to generate new revenue streams from the virtually untapped Internet and broadband market by introducing mobile data and WiMAX wireless broadband services.
Camtel has been allowed to monopolise access to the SAT-3/WASC international fibre optic submarine cable, which has led to extremely high prices and a grey market of unlicensed satellite gateway operators offering Internet access and Voice over Internet Protocol services. A major expansion program for international fibre connections and a national fibre backbone network is underway with funding from the Word Bank and China.
Under a more liberal regulatory regime, Cameroons telecommunications market could catch up very quickly with its peers in the region. The industry regulator has indicated it plans to complete the privatisation of Camtel and increase competition by licensing more operators.
Market highlights:
Forecasts for Cameroon's mobile market for 2012 and 2016;
Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
Privatisation of Camtel planned in a public-private partnership;
Mobile ARPU has fallen below US$10 per month;
All major players have adopted WiMAX as broadband access technology;
Competition in international fibre bandwidth expected by 2012;
Significant improvements in national fibre backbone infrastructure.Estimated market penetration rates in Cameroon's telecoms sector - end 2011
MarketPenetration rate
Mobile43%
Fixed/fixed-wireless4%
Internet5%
(Source: BuddeComm based on various sources)
Last Update: 8 Mar 2011 Number of Pages: 27
Single User: USD $430.00 ex-GST View Table of Contents
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