Kenya Poised for Huge Growth in Mobile Services, Pyramid Research Projects

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts - Mobile penetration in Kenya’s telecom market will grow by 95 percent over
the next five years, a market growth that will reflect intense competition
among network operators and lead to a rapid uptake of mobile data services,
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 Kenya” offers a precise profile of the
country’s converged telecommunications, media, and technology sectors based
on proprietary data from Pyramid’s research in the Kenyan market. This
22-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 holistic view of the Kenyan
communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term
opportunities, and assessing upcoming risks factors. Download an excerpt of
this new report here:
www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR031609_CIRK

“Kenya shows impressive growth rates with significant opportunity,” notes
Dearbhla McHenry, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. “By
the end of 2008, Kenya had more than 15.0 million mobile subscribers, with a
mobile penetration rate of 39 percent. The subscriber base is expected to
rise to 29.28 million, or 66.7 percent penetration, by year-end 2013.”

Increased competition is helping to fuel demand for mobile services in
Kenya, McHenry says. “Until 2008, the Kenyan mobile market was a duopoly
consisting of Safaricom and Zain. That has now changed with the entry of two
new players - Econet and Orange. Since their entry, there has been a fierce
price war with operators slashing tariffs and introducing new air time
promotions, making their services more affordable for the wider population.”

Total revenue of Kenya’s telecom market is forecast to grow by 42 percent
from US$1.39 billion in 2008 to US$1.98 billion by 2013, with 78 percent of
the total revenue to be generated by the mobile sector. “Mobile data will be
the telecom sector’s fastest-growing revenue stream, increasing in revenue
from US$62 million in 2008 to US$224 million in 2013, partly due to the
launch of 3G services but also to the explosive growth of low-tech,
low-margin mobile data services, particularly mobile money transfers,”
says McHenry.

“Communications Markets in Kenya” is part of Pyramid Research’s Africa
and 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.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR031609_CIRK

“Communications Markets in Kenya” is priced at US$990 and can be
purchased online here:
www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRKENYA.htm?sc=PR031609_CIRK 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 of Pyramid Research, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com