Research and Markets: Africa's Convergence of Telecommunications and Digital

This annual report offers a wealth of information on the convergence of telecommunications with digital media in 35 African countries. Subjects covered include:

The use of digital media is still in its infancy in Africa while suitable broadband infrastructure on the continent is evolving. However, significant improvements in national and international fibre infrastructure and the emergence of wireless broadband access and third-generation (3G) mobile systems in recent years are now bringing the Internet to a wider part of the continents close to one billion population, and this is opening the way to advanced online applications and services and a convergence of telecommunications with digital media.

Requiring relatively little bandwidth, VoIP Internet telephony was the first application in this converging environment. Beginning in 2004, its use has been liberalised in many key markets in Africa but remains restricted in others. IPTV services have emerged since 2006 and now exist in at least eight African countries. With mobile penetration above 50% across the continent in 2010 and near or above 100% in key markets, mobile TV services are also available in a number of countries.

Besides communication, information and entertainment, the Internet also holds the potential to bring vast improvements in other key areas where Africa lags behind most of the rest of the world: governance, trade, health and access to education. Besides some Indian Ocean island nations, the relatively wealthy North African countries are the most advanced in the areas of e-government, e-health and e-education, but there are also some notable initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. E-commerce and m-commerce applications are enabling African businesses to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.