South Africa's Mobile Data Demand Drives Operators to Upgrade Networks, Pyramid Finds

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 27, 2010 - As one of the most developed telecom markets in the Africa & Middle East
region, South Africa's growth over the next five years will be fueled by
mobile data and broadband Internet segments, according to a new report from
Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com).

South Africa: Operators Continue to Upgrade Networks as Mobile Data
Demand Builds offers a profile of the country's telecommunications, media,
and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in the
market. The 32-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.
Download an excerpt of this report here:
www.pyr.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PRN042710_CIRSA

Pyramid Research expects the telecom market to grow at a CAGR of only 1.6
percent over the next five years, to US$15.1 billion in 2014. Pyramid
Research estimates that the mobile segment generated 72 percent of total
market revenue in 2009, propelled by mobile voice and data, notes Badii
Kechiche, Senior Analyst and co-author of this report. "Mobile voice will
continue to generate most of the segment's revenue, specifically mobile data;
driven by mobile email and mobile broadband Internet services, we anticipate
mobile data revenue will grow from US$1.4 billion in 2009 to US$2.2 billion
in 2014, a CAGR of 9.4 percent."

"A number of undersea and land-based cable projects will provide
much-needed extra capacity for operators to offer IP services at more
affordable prices, thus capturing a wider population," explains Kechiche. "As
a result, we expect broadband Internet revenue to grow from US$369 million in
2009 to US$740 million in 2014, a CAGR of 14.9 percent," he adds. "These
projects create ample opportunities in the South African market. Operators
are heavily investing in mobile broadband technologies, upgrading their
networks to compete in the vital mobile data segment."

South Africa: Operators Continue to Upgrade Networks as Mobile Data
Demand Builds is part of Pyramid Research's Africa & Middle East Country
Intelligence Report Series and is priced at US$990. It can be purchased
online here:
www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRSOUTHAFRICA.htm?sc=PRN042710_CIRSA
or by emailing info@pyr.com.

CONTACT: Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker@pyr.com

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