Iyefu Adoba With Agency Reports
10 May 2004
Abuja — A survey conducted by the United Nations, Geneva-based organisation, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked Nigeria amongst Africa's fastest growing mobile phone market.
The survey indicated that whilst the Nigerian market amongst others is constantly expanding, there has been little or no significant growth in countries such as war torn Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Burundi.
The next challenge for mobile service providers the survey adds will be to reach rural areas where millions of people still lack even the most basic services of water and electricity.
The report also shows that mobile phones in Africa has increased at an annual rate of 65 per cent in the last five years, representing twice the world average.
With an estimated 52 million Africans relying on this method for communication, the survey indicates that this is the preferred means of communications comparable to land lines, which is used by about 25 million people.
A report monitored on Voice of America, quoted the organization's spokesperson, Vanessa Gray as saying that last year alone, 13 million Africans purchased mobile handsets for the first time.
"One of the main reasons the mobile has become so successful is that there is effectively a lack of fixed lines in the continent. I think what is important is to see this in contrast to the fixed-line market which at the end of 2003, stood at only 25 million people" said Gray.
"And also very important is the fact that people can have pre-paid cards so that they do not have to subscribe to the service. People that could not have a fixed line because they do not have financial backing could now have a pre-paid mobile card," added Gray.
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