GSMA Report Reveals Mobile Is Catalyst For Explosive Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

GSMA Report Reveals Mobile Is Catalyst For Explosive Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa PR Newswire CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 13, 2012 - Region Leads World in Mobile Growth, Mobile Internet and Mobile Money Transfer, But Further Growth Is Held Back by Inadequate Spectrum Allocation and High Taxation CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSMA today revealed that sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest-growing mobile market in the world, with a prodigious average annual growth rate of 44 per cent since 2000(1). Mobile connections have leapt to 475 million, compared to just 12.3 million fixed line connections, representing the highest proportion of mobile versus fixed line connections in the world. With necessary spectrum allocations and transparent regulation, the mobile industry could fuel the growth of 14.9 million new jobs in sub-Saharan Africa between 2015 and 2020. Based on research from Deloitte, the GSMA sub-Saharan Africa Mobile Observatory(2) provides a comprehensive evaluation of the region's mobile industry and its socio-economic impact. "Mobile has already revolutionised African society and yet demand still continues to grow by almost 50 per cent a year," said Tom Phillips, Chief Government and Regulatory Affairs Officer, GSMA.