Ghana : Mobile Market - Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

1. Synopsis

2. Overview of Ghana's mobile market

2.1 Mobile statistics

3. Regulatory issues

3.1 Licensing

3.2 Tariffs

3.3 Interconnect

3.4 Taxation

3.5 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

3.6 Infrastructure sharing

3.7 Roaming

3.8 Registration of subscriber details

3.9 Billing

4. Major mobile operators

4.1 Vodafone (Ghana Telecom, OneTouch)

4.1.1 Network development and coverage

4.1.2 Services

4.2 MTN Ghana (formerly ScanCom, Spacefon Areeba)

4.2.1 Network development and coverage

4.2.2 Services

4.3 Tigo (Millicom Ghana, Mobitel)

4.4 Expresso (Kasapa Telecom)

4.5 Bharti Airtel (Zain/Celtel, Westel)

4.6 Glo Mobile

5. Average revenue per user (ARPU)

5.1 SMS

5.2 GPRS, EDGE, WAP

5.3 Mobile TV

6. Third generation (3G)

6.1 Mobile for healthcare

6.2 Mobile data services

7. Long-term Evolution (LTE)

8. Mobile content and applications

8.1 Mobile money transfer

9. Local handset manufacturing

10. Satellite mobile

11. Forecast mobile market 2014; 2017

11.1 Notes on scenario forecasts

12. Related reports

Table 1 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1999 - 2004

Table 2 Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2005 - 2015

Table 3 Overview of mobile network launch dates

Table 4 Mobile voice subscribers by operator 2011 - 2014

Table 5 Mobile voice subscriber market share by operator 2011 - 2014

Table 6 Cumulative mobile number portings 2011 - 2014

Table 7 Vodafone Ghana subscribers 2008 - 2014

Table 8 MTN Ghana financial data 2011 - 2013

Table 9 MTN Ghana mobile subscribers 2012 - 2014

Table 10 Tigo Ghana mobile subscribers 2013 - 2014

Table 11 Espresso Ghana mobile subscribers 2013 - 2014

Table 12 Espresso Ghana mobile subscribers 2013 - 2014

Table 13 Glo Mobile subscribers 2013 - 2014

Table 14 MTN Ghana ARPU 2002 2014

Table 15 Mobile data subscribers by operator 2013 - 2014

Table 16 Forecast mobile subscribers 2014; 2017

Chart 1 - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2005 - 2015

Chart 2 Mobile voice subscribers by operator 2011 2014

Exhibit 1 SMS as a weapon against drug counterfeiting

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.