Africa's telecoms companies need to adapt

Following years of strong growth, Africa's communications market is at a turning point. Basic infrastructure coverage has reached levels that allow a flourishing mobile market, dominated by voice services, which should boost the continent's fragile economies. Market consolidation has created a landscape dominated by large international telecommunications groups such as MTN, MTC-Celtel and Vodacom. However the rising penetration rates are reducing ARPU levels: “Though the exceptional growth in demand has had a positive impact on net adds, it continues to have a dilutive impact on ARPU (average revenue per user)”, says Devine Kofiloto, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media.

“ARPU across the continent, which was $14.50 at end 2006, is expected to further drop by 8% to $13.42 come end 2007”. On top of this, new wireless technologies such as WiMAX are shaking the communications landscape, forcing mobile and fixed operators to review their technology choices.

In this climate, telecommunications companies have to re-examine their growth strategies to maximise their position in a changing environment. With this purpose in mind, the leaders of the continent's major communications players will meet at AfricaCom in Cape Town, SA, on 21 and 22 November 2007, to discuss new objectives and strategies.

In this high-level conference, senior representatives of four of the continent's largest telecommunications groups will present their investment and growth strategies. Moez Daya, CEO – Africa for MTC, will give a keynote interview on the group's strategy to grow its pan-African subsidiary Celtel, as the leadership structure has been rearranged to fully bring Celtel into MTC's organisation. Tim Lowry (group VP for the Southern and Eastern Africa regions, and MD of MTN South Africa), will examine how MTN Group is adapting to new market conditions, in particular its move to 3G and WiMAX in some of its key markets. Marc Rennard, EVP for Africa, the Middle East and Asia at Orange Group, will examine his company's investment strategy on the continent, as it is expanding into non French-speaking markets. Dr Nizar Dalloul, chairman and CEO of Comium, will explain how his group competes with its larger competitors, and how he manages its presence on the continent. As for Vodacom, it will be represented by the heads of two of its operations: Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom (Kenya), and Alieu Conteh, chairman of Vodacom Congo (DRC).

In total, 18 senior representatives of operators will address the main issues faced by African operators, ranging from technology evolution to marketing strategies, value-added services and network infrastructure; representatives of regulators and leading infrastructure and telecoms solutions vendors will complete the picture of the continent's communications markets.

AfricaCom, part of the renowned GSM>3G World Series, and the largest communications event on the continent, will celebrate 10 years of successful events. “For this anniversary, we are offering an exceptional experience with some of the continent's leading experts sharing their views of the market, as well as greater networking opportunities to ensure that participants come back to their office with lots of new ideas and contacts”, says Julie Rey, manager – Africa Region at Informa Telecoms & Media, the organisers of the event. Indeed, this year's show will include a high quality conference with 70+ speakers, a wide audience of over 3000 participants representing the whole communications value chain (GSM, CDMA, fixed-line, ISPs, satellite, vendors, etc.), and a larger than ever exhibition with 180 companies showing their latest solutions. Catering for all of Africa, the event will also provide English-French translation in the main auditorium at the conference.

For more information on this event and how to take part, contact: Julie Rey: +44 20 7017 5394 or e-mail or visit our website: http://www.gsm-3gworldseries.com/africa