2008 Africa - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Southern Region and Indian Ocean Islands Report is Available Now.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7a29fa/2008_africa_tele) has announced the addition of the "2008 Africa - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Southern Region and Indian Ocean Islands" report to their offering.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the telecommunications markets of nine African countries: Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Subjects covered include:

* Key statistics;

* Market and industry overviews;

* Regulatory environment and structural reform;

* Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);

* Infrastructure development;

* Mobile voice and data markets;

* Average Revenue per User (ARPU) trends;

* Internet, including broadband development;

* Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).

For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:

* Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;

* Market liberalisation;

* Telecoms operators - privatisation, acquisitions, new licences and competition;

* Internet and broadband development and growth;

* The fast growing mobile markets of the region;

* Average Revenue per User (ARPU);

* Mobile application and content developments.

The diversity among the countries in this group is immense, ranging from the small Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius, sporting some of the best telecoms market indicators of the continent, to some of the poorest countries in the world, like Malawi and the island of Madagascar. In between are relatively wealthy nations like Botswana and Namibia which benefit from their close ties with South Africa. In its decade-old deep political and economic crisis, neighbouring Zimbabwe is demonstrating how telecoms markets in Africa survive even the most difficult of operating conditions.

Key highlights:

* Fixed-line, mobile and Internet market forecasts to 2010 and 2015 for Angola and Madagascar, two of Africa's most promising growth markets driven by oil revenues.

* Privatisation of incumbent telco underway in Botswana, expected in Angola.

* The number of fixed lines has almost tripled in Madagascar since privatisation.

* Fixed-line incumbents are entering the lucrative mobile market under new service-neutral licensing regimes and converging technologies.

* WiMAX networks are operational or under development in almost every country in the region.

* Liberalisation of VoIP underway in Malawi and Zambia.

* New international fibre optic submarine cables will reach the region in 2009 and 2010 and dramatically reduce the cost of bandwidth.

* Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in national fibre optic backbone networks.

* Fibre-to-the-Home deployment in Mauritius.

* Third mobile licence awarded in Malawi, expected in Angola and Mozambique.

* Live 3G mobile services in Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia, with Zimbabwe ready to launch.

* Mobile ARPU has bottomed in many markets, rising again with mobile data services.

Vodacom Mozambique monthly ARPU - 2004 - 2008

Year ends Mar Monthly ARPU (US$)

2004 16.20

2005 8.30

2006 5.60

2007 4.00

2008 4.10

(Source: BuddeComm based on company data)

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Key Topics Covered:

1. ANGOLA

2. BOTSWANA

3. MADAGASCAR

4. MALAWI

5. MAURITIUS

6. MOZAMBIQUE

7. NAMIBIA

8. ZAMBIA

9. ZIMBABWE

10. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

List of Tables

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Telecommunications licences in Mauritius - 2008

Exhibit 2 - Vodacom's in and out of Zambia

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7a29fa/2008_africa_tele