Mobile media rights strategy for 2010

The Marketing and Communication Executive for Soccerex, Billy Hunt said the panel entitled 'Mobile communications in Africa and beyond - the key to reaching fans at the 2010 FIFA World Cup' would feature senior figures from FIFA, Ericsson and Perform.

In a statement, Hunt said the next FIFA World Cup in South Africa was expected to push forward interaction via many different communication technologies, including full match broadcasts on mobiles.

The Director of the TV Division in FIFA, Niclas Ericson, who will be heading the panel, is expected to outline the importance of fan communication via media platforms and opportunities this poses ahead of 2010.

Ericson is set to reveal the world governing body of football's stance on the activation of event mobile broadcasting rights.

The business development manager at Ericsson, Robin Berglund will discuss how companies remain innovative in this highly competitive market and how he feels mobile services and handsets can take fan interaction to new levels.

With Ericsson operating in over 1,000 networks in more than 140 countries, Berglund is highly knowledgeable on mobile global deployments in markets such as Africa.

Hunt said the manager will divulge how mobile services provide the greatest influence on media and sports consumption and the related mobile marketing strategy.

"This conference panel will provide Soccerex delegates an expert consultation session on mobile marketing strategies, focusing on South Africa's rapidly developing telecommunications market," he said.

Soccerex is the leading international business-to-business football convention and the 2008 conference will take place from 23 to 26 November at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

South Africa is the world's fourth fastest growing cellular communications market accounting for 80% of the population (over 39 million users) and it offers an extraordinary penetration rate in this growing market, one of the highest in the developing world, representing a market value of US$2.4billion.

In comparison, internet use is experiencing slower growth than expected. According to 2006 figures, South Africa had just over 5 million users representing a penetration rate of only 10.3%, underlining mobile marketing's prominence in this consumer market.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews.