3G Competitors to Drive Mobile Service Uptake in Egypt, Pyramid Research Predicts

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts - Mobile penetration in Egypt will reach 97 percent by year-end 2014 from 54 percent in 2008, driven by significant changes in its competitive landscape, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Communications Markets in Egypt offers a precise, incisive profile of the country’s converged telecommunications, media, and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in the Egyptian market. This 27-page report provides detailed competitive analysis of both the fixed and mobile sectors, tracks the market shares of technologies and services, and monitors the introduction and spread of new technologies such as WiMax, IPTV, and VoIP. This executive study provides a comprehensive view of the Egyptian communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term opportunities and assessing upcoming risks factors. Download an excerpt of this new report here: www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR042309_CIREG

Although the total size of Egypt’s telecom market is estimated to have reached US$5.7 billion in revenue as of year-end 2008, it is still comparatively small despite the country’s large population, notes Yejide Onabule, analyst and author of the report. However, it is among the fastest growing markets in the Middle East and Africa, with total revenue expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4 percent for the 2009 to 2014 period. “Pyramid expects strong growth from the Egyptian telecom sector through 2014, particularly due to changes in the country’s competitive landscape,” she says.

Mobile penetration in Egypt rose significantly from 40 percent in 2007 to 54 percent in 2008, with 65 percent expected in 2009. “This has been largely driven by the entry of a third mobile operator, Etisalat Egypt, which has ignited the market with lower prices and innovative services; it was also the first to launch 3G and is investing into upgrading to HSPA,” says Onabule. “Other operators compete to attract the untapped, lower-income segments, developing very successful low-ARPS business models,” she explains. “This has led to a boom in the number of mobile subscriptions, which grew by 37 percent in 2008. We expect the current rapid growth to persist through the forecast period, with mobile penetration reaching 97 percent by year-end 2014,” she adds.

Egypt became the second Arab country to introduce a third mobile operator. “Etisalat Egypt, which is a subsidiary of the UAE’s government-owned operator Etisalat, gained a respectable 8.6 percent of the market in 2008, and we expect it to attract a 15.2 percent market share by 2014,” says Onabule.

Communications Markets in Egypt is part of Pyramid Research’s Africa and the Middle East Country Intelligence Report Series. Pyramid Research’s premium Country Intelligence Reports are the industry’s best available analysis on market trends, regulatory environments, and competitive dynamics for 60 countries worldwide.

Download an excerpt of this new report here: www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR042309_CIREG

Communications Markets in Egypt is priced at US$990 and can be purchased online here: www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIREGYPT.htm?sc=PR042309_CIREG or through Dave Williams via email at dave.williams@pyr.com or telephone at +1-858-485-8870.

For more information about Pyramid Research’s products and services, please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries-a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry’s most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the US$3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading’s research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than US$2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

Press contact: Jennifer Baker +1-617-871-1910 jbaker@pyr.com

Source: Pyramid Research

Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com