Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2015
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With no less than six operators in a market of close to 20m inhabitants, Côte d’Ivoire’s telecommunications industry is competitive. However, with limited data usage, the scope for growth in revenues is sizeable. Mobile voice is by far the biggest generator of revenues in Côte d’Ivoire’s telecoms sector, representing close to 75% of revenues in 2013. Demand for voice services may be plateauing, but with 3G technologies deployed by the country’s biggest players, the short- and medium-term outlook is bright. Significant potential therefore remains in the sector to complement call tariffs, particularly in fixed-line and mobile internet segments. Despite high access costs, internet usage rates are gradually rising and the National Broadband Project should help further raise connection levels while at the same time putting downward pressure on tariffs. Sound growth fundamentals of the mobile money segment are testament to the potential popularity of e-services in the market and bode well for those with an appetite to deepen it. Meanwhile, fiscal and regulatory pressures aimed at optimising service standards are expected to become a more regular feature of the market, especially in light of the upcoming presidential elections in 2015 and the public drive to raise funding to complete ongoing, large-scale infrastructure projects.

This chapter contains interviews with Bruno Nabagné Koné, Minister of Post, Information Technology and Communication; and Michel Combes, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Getting connected: Steps are being taken to improve quality standards
OBG
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With no less than six operators in a market of close to 20m inhabitants, Côte d’Ivoire’s telecommunications industry is competitive. However, with limited data usage, the scope for growth in revenues is sizeable. Demand for voice services may be plateauing, but with 3G technologies deployed by the country’s biggest players, the short- and medium-term outlook is bright. On top of mobile broadband developments, fixed line connections are also seeing new dynamism with a slate of initiatives aimed…

Analysis

Going online: New technologies and infrastructure will boost connectivity
OBG
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While the current level of internet provision is surprisingly modest, the scope for growth in terms of getting Côte d’Ivoire’s population online is immense. According to World Bank’s calculations, the country’s internet penetration rate reached 2.5% in 2012, significantly lower than those in neighbouring countries such as Nigeria (32%), Senegal (19%), Ghana (16%) and Liberia (4%). The difference is particularly notable in the fixed-line internet segment, where the total subscriber base reached…

Interview

Speeding up: OBG talks to Bruno Nabagné Koné, Minister of Post, Information Technology and Communication
OBG
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Interview:Bruno Nabagné Koné In what ways has the ICT industry benefitted from market liberalisation and privatisation? BRUNO NABAGNÉ KONÉ: Thanks to a process of market liberalisation that took place at the end of the 1990s, the ICT sector has experienced rapid growth over the last few years. While the government remains in charge of technical aspects like spectrum management, it has delegated some of its prerogatives to private entities. As a result, the country has reached a mobile…

Overview

Getting the right technology: Digitalising systems and upgrading offerings
OBG
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The telecommunications sector in Côte d’Ivoire has seen notable growth in recent years, contributing 7% of GDP in 2013. As is the case in most African markets, the IT segment, including networking, software and hardware activities, has seen a more modest pick up. High fragmentation, low infrastructure development and limited human resources has kept IT development and adoption rates low, and behind neighbours like Ghana and Nigeria. Industry players have specifically called for educational support…

Interview

State of transformation: OBG talks to Michel Combes, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent
OBG
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Interview:Michel Combes To what extent does the demand for data services and broadband drive investment inflows? MICHEL COMBES: The growing demand for data services is leading to a network transformation, and therefore requires further investment. However, thanks to technology developments, the cost of data transport per kilobit has fallen significantly. In terms of internet access technologies, needs are oriented towards fibre-optic systems for fixed-access solutions, and “vectoring”…