While ITSPs may face challenges delivering VoIP services in African and Middle Eastern telecom markets, the growing use of mobile in these regions and steady demand for low-cost international calling are creating opportunities for service providers with the right tools.
Widespread Mobile Use
In regions like Africa and the Middle East, mobile use has leapfrogged that of landlines. This is because mobile performs the same essential purpose as landline-based telephony yet requires less infrastructure—infrastructure, which is often lacking in many of these regions. Furthermore, mobile is more functional and flexible than is landline telephony. For these reasons…
Africa is home to more than 650 million mobile subscribers—more than the US or EU (World Bank)
The market penetration for mobile phones in the Middle East is 109% (Ericsson Mobility Report)
Demand for International Calling
According to the 2010 US census, more than 940,000 immigrants from Africa currently reside in the US. These people have friends, family and business associates in Africa with whom they want to stay in touch. Likewise, many in Africa would like to speak to their friends and relatives who have moved to the US. The same is true of the Middle East (and practically any source-region of diaspora or immigrant communities). In turn, US mobile users spent a whopping $37 billion on international calling last year, according to a recent Rebtel study.
Read more here: http://blog.ipsmarx.com/telecom-africa- ... tsps-know/