Mali - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts

Additional Information

Executive summary

Strong mobile growth following privatisation

Home to one of the world’s most isolated cities, the fabled Timbuctu, and with a generally challenging geography for the provision of telecommunication services, Mali still has market penetration rates below African averages in all market sectors, including mobile.

France Telecom was extremely successful when it entered the market as the second mobile and fixed-line operator in 2003 and quickly amassed more than 80% market share under the Orange brand, offering converged fixed, mobile and broadband Internet services.

The national telco, Sotelma with its mobile subsidiary Malitel was privatised in 2009 when a 51% stake was sold to Maroc Telecom, itself majority owned by Vivendi of France. The fresh capital and management has enabled the incumbent to compete much more aggressively.

In addition, the government is planning to license a third mobile operator. Third generation mobile services have not yet been launched.

The introduction of ADSL, WiMAX and mobile data services has started to accelerate growth in the Internet and broadband market, but Mali’s landlocked location makes it dependent on neighbouring countries for international fibre bandwidth, which has kept prices high. Improvements in this sector can be expected from the arrival of new competitive international submarine fibre systems to the region in 2011 and 2012.

Market highlights:

• Forecasts to end-2011 for mobile, fixed-line and Internet market;
• Profiles of major players in all market sectors;
• Strong mobile subscriber growth;
• Third mobile licence expected;
• New international fibre will improve broadband connectivity from 2011/12.Estimated market penetration rates in Mali’s telecoms sector - end-2010
• MarketPenetration rate
• Mobile40%
• Fixed0.5%
• Internet2.1%
• (Source: BuddeComm based on various sources)

This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Mali’s telecommunications market. Subjects covered include:

Key statistics;

• Market and industry overviews;
• The impact of the global economic crisis;
• Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
• Market liberalisation and regulatory environment;
• Major players (fixed, mobile and broadband);
• Telecoms operators - privatisation, acquisitions, new licences;
• Infrastructure development;
• Mobile voice and data markets;
• Average Revenue per User;
• Internet and broadband development and growth;
• Broadband and mobile data services and pricing trends;
• Convergence (voice/data, fixed/wireless/mobile).