Ghana : Mobile Market - Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Ghana : Mobile Market - Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Since launching the first cellular mobile network in sub-Saharan Africa in 1992, Ghana has developed one of the continent's most vibrant mobile markets, with six competing operators including regional heavyweights such as MTN, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel (formerly Zain) and Millicom (Tigo). The entry of Nigeria's Globacom as the sixth player in 2012 has delivered another boost to the sector. Subscriber growth, however, has come at the expense of lower Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). While the voice market is saturated, there is enormous growth potential in both subscriber and ARPU for mobile broadband services. Mobile broadband already accounts for the vast majority of internet connections in the country.

Key developments:

Regulator reports an 87% year-on-year increase in mobile number portings; Surfline Communications launches LTE in the capital and in Tema; mobile operators ordered to repeat SIM card registration following widespread use of fake IDs during the process; Thuraya to provide mobile satellite services for Airtel Ghana; to ATC Tower and Helios join the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications; Blu Telecoms plans LTE launch by mid-2014; regulator's fines on MNOs for QoS issues stimulate additional investments; 3G mobile broadband services representing majority of internet connections; Ericsson supporting Millennium Villages project in rural areas; regulator's market data to June 2014; telcos' operating data to Q2 2014; includes recent market developments.

Companies covered in this report:

MTN Ghana; Vodafone (Ghana Telecom; OneTouch); Millicom Ghana (Tigo); Expresso Telecom (Sudatel, Kasapa); Globacom (Glo Mobile); Bharti Airtel (Zain/Celtel, Westel); Thuraya.