Both Africa and the Middle East are far behind other regions in telephone connectivity and broadband penetration, putting the region at a productivity disadvantage but offering major potential for investment and equipment sales, according to the recently-released TIA 2008 Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast.

The annual report by TIA notes the following:

• Africa has more than seven times as many wireless subscribers as landline subscribers, a ratio twice as large as any other region.
  
  
• Africa had 2.6 times as many wireless subscribers as the Middle East in 2007, but 31 percent fewer landline subscribers.
  
  
• Governments are opening markets to competition and issuing new mobile licenses to address the infrastructure shortfall.
  
  
• TIA expects these developments to boost the number of telephone connections significantly during the next four years resulting in a 55 percent compound annual increase in Africa through 2011.
  
  
• The Middle East will also experience a substantial 40 percent gain in connections.
  
  
• The Middle East/Africa landline market expanded 6.8 percent in 2007, fastest of any region.
  
  
• Between 2001 and 2007, the number of landline subscriptions in the Middle East rose 75 percent, compared with 43 percent growth in Africa during that period.
  
  
• For the total region, landline subscribership is expected to reach 87.4 million in 2011 from 70.3 million in 2007.
  
  
• The wireless subscriber base in Middle East/Africa rose 18.8 percent in 2007, second fastest growth behind Asia Pacific.

TIA’s annual report covers wireless, landline, equipment and international markets with great detail in 400 pages and 450 figures and tables. While you contemplate how to allocate your company’s spending on marketing and R&D, where to focus strategic investments, and which countries to target with new offices and additional agents, use TIA’s new report to help you make the wisest decisions. Buy Online, e-mail marketreview@tiaonline.org or call +1.703.907.7074 today to order your printed copy or electronic version.

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