Mobile growth slows in some African countries

Mobile phone growth in Botswana and Mauritius is slowing down as a result of market saturation, while in other Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and East Africa countries the sector continues to grow rapidly, according to a recent survey.

The market research report for Eastern and Southern Africa Telecommunications for the first quarter of 2009 shows that while the telecom sector is rapidly growing in many African countries, it is slowing down in Mauritius and Botswana. The report, compiled by Business Monitor International, tracks patterns in eastern and southern Africa.

Pan African mobile service providers including Zain and MTN (Mobile Telecommunication Network) have said that they are moving quickly to make acquisitions in many African countries to consolidate their market share as the mobile market in the region becomes saturated. Africa is experiencing an influx of European, Middle East and Asian mobile companies competing for a slice of the lucrative African telecom market.

The report said Kenya and Uganda will also continue to experience rapid growth in the telecom sector, with new entrants and established players moving in to consolidate market share.

By the end of 2013, the report said, mobile penetration is predicted to surpass 100 percent in Kenya and Uganda, with some users having more than one phone.

The Botswana Telecommunication Authority, the country's telecom sector regulator, said in its 2008 annual report that there were about 1.4 million subscribers in the country by March last year.