Sudan Telecommunications Report Q1 2011: New research report available at Fast Market Research

Nov. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- BMI's Q1 2011 update on the Sudanese telecoms market contains updated operational and financial data published by the leading network operators for the end of June 2010. Since our last update, new data have been published by mobile operators Zain and MTN, and by Sudanese fixed-line incumbent operator Sudatel. The data helped us ascertain the size of Sudan's mobile subscriber market at the end of H110. It has also resulted in us revising our five-year mobile market growth forecast.

Based on the most recent data published by these three operators, we estimate Sudan had more than 17.6mn mobile telephony customers at the end of June. Although this figure was down 0.8% compared with the previous quarter, it was up 24.1% year-on-year (y-o-y). The negative growth experienced in Q210 is a reflection of the negative customer growth reported by MTN. Sudan's third-largest mobile operator reported a loss of 728,000 customers in Q210. Although MTN has not provided an explanation for this, BMI suspects it relates to the deduction of inactive prepaid customers from MTN's reported total. Sudan's mobile subscriber market remains heavily skewered towards prepaid users. One consequence of this phenomenon is understood to be the presence of a large number of registered but inactive customers. Although MTN deducted a substantial number of inactive customers from its reported total, BMI believes there is potential for Sudan's other operators to do the same. If our analysis is correct, the loss of MTN customers should not be regardedas a negative development, but instead as a clearing-up exercise. In addition to lowering Sudan's mobile penetration rate, the deduction of inactive customers from the sector unveils the potential for further market growth.

In contrast to MTN's negative customer growth in Q210, rival operator Zain reported quarterly growth of 4.7%. Meanwhile, incumbent operator Sudatel reported a 13% increase in customers in the 12 months to June 30 2010. Quarterly growth for the operator was about 3.2%. BMI continues to estimate a combined figure Vivacell's and Gemtel's mobile subscribers. Both firms are regional operators in the semiautonomous south of Sudan. As noted in our previous update, Libyan African Investments Portfolio (LAP), an investment vehicle for the Libyan government, acquired an 80% stake in Gemtel through its telecoms arm, LAP Green Networks.

There are no further changes this quarter to our growth forecasts for Sudan's fixed-line telephony and internet user markets. Over the next five years, we forecast Sudan's internet-user base will expand at an annual average growth rate of 9.5%. By contrast, we continue to predict steady fixed-line growth over the next few years. Growth will be underpinned by ongoing infrastructure investments.

Sudan has risen from 15th to 14th position in BMI's latest set of Telecoms Business Environment Ratings for Sub-Saharan Africa. Although Sudan received a weaker score in the Country Risks category, its Industry Rewards score has experienced a slight rise. Sudan's Country Risks score is negatively affected by concerns about the country's long-term political stability.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/94405_sudan_telecommunications...

Report Table of Contents:

Executive Summary
SWOT Analysis
- Sudan Mobile SWOT
- Sudan Fixed-Line And Broadband SWOT
- Sudan Political SWOT
- Sudan Economic SWOT
- Sudan Business Environment SWOT
Business Environment
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Sudan
- Table: Sub Saharan Telecoms Business Environment Ratings
Industry Forecast Scenario
- Mobile
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Mobile - Historical Data & Forecasts
- Fixed Line
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Fixed Line - Historical Data & Forecasts
- Internet
- Table: Telecoms Sector - Broadband And Internet - Historical Data & Forecasts
Market Data Analysis
- Mobile
- Table: Sudan Mobile Market Q210
- Table: Sudan Mobile Market Net Additions Q210
- 3G
- Regional Outlook
- Country Outlook
- Table: VAS Developments
- Mobile Operator Data
- Table: Sudan Mobile Market Overview
- Table: Zain (formerly Celtel)
- Table: MTN
- Fixed Line
- Internet
- Table: Wireline Developments
Telecoms Regulatory Environment Table
- Sudan: Regulatory Bodies And Their Responsibilities
- Competition
- Licensing
- Industry Developments
Competitive Landscape
- Key Players
- Table: Key Players - Sudan Telecoms Sector
- Table: Selected Operators Financial Indicators (US$mn)
Company Monitor
- Middle East and Africa Vendor Profile: Cisco Systems
- Table: Cisco Financial Performance, 2007-2010 (US$ mn)
- Table: Cisco Systems Recent Contract Wins in Africa and the Middle East
Company Profiles
- Zain Sudan
- Sudatel
Regional Telecommunications Penetration Overview
- Fixed Line
- Table: Regional Fixed-Line Penetration Overview
- Mobile
- Table: Regional Mobile Penetration Overview
- Internet
- Table: Regional Internet Penetration Overview
Glossary Of Terms
- Table: Glossary Of Terms
BMI Methodology
- How We Generate Our Industry Forecasts
- Table: Key Indicators For Telecommunications Industry Forecasts
- Telecoms Business Environment Ratings
- Risk/Reward Ratings Methodology
- Ratings System
- Indicators
- Table: Ratings Indicators
- Weighting
- Table: Weighting Of Indicators
- Sources

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Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.