The number of mobile broadband connections in Africa will reach one billion in 2020, up from 147 million at the end of 2014, according to new forecasts by Ovum. The rapid growth of mobile broadband in Africa over the next few years will be driven by factors such as the ongoing rollout of 3G W-CDMA and 4G LTE networks on the continent and the increasing affordability of smartphones and other data devices, said Ovum.
As a result, mobile broadband will account for an increasingly substantial share of the overall mobile market in Africa, growing from 17% of the 884 million total mobile subscriptions at the end of 2014 to 76% of the 1.32 billion total mobile subscriptions by the end of 2020. The number is expected to cross the one billion mark during 2016.
On the outlook for its digital services market, Ovum's research tool Digital Media Opportunity Index: Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that South Africa has the most favourable market among the 20 countries surveyed for digital media content such as apps, digital music, digital publishing, OTT video, and video gaming.
Source: Ovum
Matthew Reed, Practice Leader for Middle East & Africa at Ovum
Although the pace of growth in overall connection numbers in Africa has slowed and the regional industry is facing some headwinds from rising competition and weaker economic conditions, there are substantial growth opportunities on the continent in data connectivity as well as in digital services that are based on those data connections.
