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MTN Reports 68.2 mil. Subscribers in Q1
25 Apr 08
MTN Group has reported a total of 68.213 million subscribers for the first quarter of 2008, representing a net increase of 6.86 million subscribers since December 2007 and a 54% increase on the previous year.
Global Insight Perspective | | Significance | MTN has reported 52.883 million African GSM subscribers: 20.107 million in South and East Africa, 30.505 million in West and Central Africa, and 2.361 million in Sudan, which is included within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. | Implications | MTN's new operations in Iran and Afghanistan reported the fastest year-on-year growth at 735.6% and 313% respectively, followed by Guinea (154.4%), Guinea-Bissau (146.6%), and Sudan (100.3%). | Outlook | MTN is well ahead of rival pan-African operators in terms of total subscriber base and, following the acquisition of Investcom and other operators, has reported strong continued organic growth in its operations across Africa. |
Within the group, MENA saw the fastest growth with 17.961 million subscribers by 31 March 2008—a 180.9% year-on-year (y/y) increase over the 6.297 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2007—and 3.666 million net new additions in the last three months alone. The West and Central Africa (WECA) region reported 30.505 million subscribers for the quarter—a 41% y/y increase over the 21.629 million in the same quarter of 2007—and 2.506 million net new additions since 31 December 2007. The South and East Africa (SEA) region reported 20.107 million subscribers for the quarter—up 22.2% y/y on 16.374 million recorded a year ago—and 778,000 new additions in the last quarter. The MTN Group also reported a 42% increase in revenue to 73.1 billion rand (US$9.056 billion) in the year ending 31 December 2007. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 42% to 31.8 billion rand (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 19 March 2008: MTN Reports 53% Annual Growth to Reach 61.4 mil. GSM Subscribers). MTN Group Subscriber Base - Q1 2008 ('000) | | | Mar 2008 | Dec 2007 | Mar 2007 | Dec 2006 | Dec 2005 | Annual Growth Rate | South and East Africa | 20,107 | 19,329 | 16,374 | 15,517 | 12,281 | 22.2% | South Africa | 15,169 | 14,781 | 13,030 | 12,483 | 10,235 | 16.4% | Swaziland | 398 | 380 | 286 | 268 | 213 | 39.2% | Botswana | 880 | 874 | 648 | 600 | 479 | 35.8% | Zambia | 352 | 262 | 227 | 187 | 97 | 55.1% | Uganda | 2,464 | 2,362 | 1,757 | 1,595 | 982 | 40.2% | Rwanda | 754 | 652 | 426 | 384 | 275 | 77.0% | West and Central Africa | 30,505 | 27,999 | 21,629 | 19,622 | 13,149 | 41.0% | Nigeria | 17,766 | 16,511 | 13,384 | 12,281 | 8,370 | 32.7% | Ghana | 4,398 | 4,016 | 2,924 | 2,585 | 1,820 | 50.4% | Cameroon | 2,855 | 2,559 | 1,857 | 1,783 | 1,248 | 53.7% | Côte d'Ivoire | 2,896 | 2,679 | 1,975 | 1,625 | 1,080 | 46.6% | Congo-Brazzaville | 404 | 316 | 280 | 280 | 210 | 44.3% | Liberia | 351 | 304 | 236 | 218 | 109 | 48.7% | Benin | 679 | 652 | 514 | 476 | 268 | 32.1% | Guinea | 870 | 727 | 342 | 276 | - | 154.4% | Guinea-Bissau | 286 | 235 | 116 | 98 | 44 | 146.6% | Middle East and North Africa | 17,691 | 14,025 | 6,297 | 4,912 | 2,624 | 180.9% | Sudan | 2,361 | 2,090 | 1,179 | 1,066 | 269 | 100.3% | Iran | 9,025 | 6,006 | 1,080 | 154 | - | 735.6% | Afghanistan | 1,462 | 1,200 | 354 | 218 | - | 313.0% | Syria | 3,158 | 3,109 | 2,381 | 2,237 | 1,465 | 32.6% | Yemen | 1,565 | 1,507 | 1,216 | 1,161 | 825 | 28.7% | Cyprus | 120 | 113 | 87 | 76 | 65 | 37.9% | Total | 68,213 | 61,353 | 48,157 | 40,051 | 28,054 | 54.0% | Total Africa* | 52,883 | 49,418 | 41,655 | 36,205 | 25,699 | 35.0% | Total Sub-Saharan Africa* | 50,522 | 47,328 | 40,132 | 35,139 | 25,430 | 32.9% | Source: Global Insight |
Outlook and Implications MTN remains well ahead of its nearest rivals in terms of total subscribers within the region. Between them, the six largest mobile operators with regional footprints reported a total of 145.373 million GSM subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa (including Sudan) by 31 December 2007. - Vodacom reported a total of 33.041 million mobile subscribers in the five African countries in which it operates by 31 December 2007, a 17.1% y/y increase (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 29 January 2008: Vodacom Reports 33 mil. African GSM Subscribers).
- Celtel (Zain) reported 30.702 million African GSM subscribers by 31 December 2007, including 26.819 million in 14 countries within sub-Saharan Africa and 3.883 million in Sudan (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 28 November 2007: Celtel Reports 24.8 mil. African GSM Subscribers). The Zain Group reported a group total of 42.501 million subscribers.
- Orange/France Telecom reported a total of 22.255 million African GSM subscribers by year-end 2007 (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 21 February 2008: Orange/France Telecom Reach 22.3 mil. African GSM Subscribers).
- Millicom reported a total African subscriber base of 5.672 million by 31 December 2007, a 66% increase on the previous year (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 15 February 2008: Millicom Reports 5.67 mil. African GSM Subscribers).
- Portugal Telecom's subsidiaries in sub-Saharan Africa reported 4.285 million GSM subscribers out of a total subscriber base of 4.37 million (see Sub-Saharan Africa: 28 February 2008: Portugal Telecom Reports Strong African Growth During 2007).
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