Research and Markets: The Southern African Mobile Communications Market Tracker - Discover Opportunities in the Emerging Zambia & South African Markets for 2011

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/52213b/the_southern_afric) has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "The Southern African Mobile Communications Market Tracker" to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled The Southern African Mobile Communications Market Tracker provides analyses on industry challenges, market drivers and restraints, revenue and expenditure forecasting and current and future strategies. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following countries: South Africa and Zambia. Mobile communication technologies covered in the research include: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobiles (GSM), 3/3.5G (UMTS, HSxPA, HSPA+), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Long term Evolution (LTE).

Market Overview:

Mobile Broadband Internet Services and WiMAX to Boost Market Prospects

Mobile communications markets in Southern Africa are experiencing high growth, particularly in Zambia. However, operators face challenges such as rising operational costs, declining interconnection charges and capital-intensive infrastructure investments. The deployment of cost-effective mobile technologies such as HSxPA, EDGE, HSPA+ and WiMAX in the near future will help operators to overcome such challenges and achieve economies of scale. South Africa is the leading market in the region in terms of subscribers and revenues, and the market growth is expected to be driven by data services as well as enterprise solutions.

Mobile broadband Internet services paralleled by WiMAX technology will boost market prospects. Mobile broadband is an effective means to improve the connectivity of Internet services in the rural area due to the lack of fixed-line (copper and fibre) infrastructure, explains the analyst of this research. The maturing standards of WiMAX technology may help operators achieve a cost-efficient deployment of next generation mobile technologies since it allows an increasing coverage for the limited amount spectrum available for each operator and supports high-speed mobile data services.

Operators Ready to Tackle Host of Challenges

The market continues to confront a range of challenges. These include slow regulatory reform and low network coverage in the rural mass market. At the same time, low literacy levels are restraining the demand for data services. Regulations in the Southern African region have not yet kept pace with technological advancements such as the WiMAX spectrum allocation, remarks the analyst. For instance, a new regulatory framework covering unified/converged licensing has not yet been set up in many countries in the region. Another potential threat to market momentum is that the mobile network coverage remains very limited in the rural area, where over 60.0 per cent of the mass market resides. Literacy levels in the Southern African region are low, adds the analyst. This constrains the uptake of data services as most data services are not yet offered in a user-friendly mode on mobile devices.

Promisingly, efforts are being made to address these challenges. Before WiMAX regulations are finalised, operators have developed the strategy to deploy similar technologies such as HSxPA and HSPA+, which will be compatible with the other 4G technologies such as WiMAX and LTE for migration in the future when the converged licensing framework is in place. Fixed-wireless and fibre-optic technologies are alternatives to improve the access to telecommunications in the rural area, advises the analyst.

Key Topics Covered:

• Introduction to the Mobile Communications Market in Southern Africa
• Southern Africa
• Market Engineering Measurements
• Industry Challenges
• Market Forecasts
• South Africa
• Market Engineering Measurements
• Market Drivers
• Market Restraints
• Market Forecasts
• Competitive Landscape of Operators
• Zambia
• Market Engineering Measurements
• Market Drivers
• Market Restraints
• Market Forecasts
• Competitive Landscape of Operators
• Competitive Strategies
• Competitors' Profiles
• CAPEX and OPEX Analysis
• Opportunity Analysis
• Industry Best Practices
• Strategic Recommendations

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/52213b/the_southern_afric