Ethiopia has the second lowest mobile penetration rate

November 18, 2012 — Ethiopia has the second lowest mobile penetration rate in Africa (17%), according to a new study released by GSMA, a group of mobile service distributors devoted to supporting the standardization of a global industry.

In its report titled, Sub-Saharan Africa Mobile Observatory 2012, mobile penetration rates in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has increased by 44 percent to 475 million, compared to just 12.3 million land line subscriptions.

Since 2011, the economies of SSA have profited from the growth of the mobile sector and its related ecosystems. An estimated US$32 billion of direct economic benefit has been credited to the thriving mobile markets, the study finds.

According to the data, Mauritania has the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa with 88 percent, while neighboring Eritrea has the lowest with 6 percent. Somalia, surprisingly, has the highest mobile penetration rates in the Horn of Africa with 35 percent.

The study also cautions high levels of government levies and regulations in SSA could be obstacles for future growth.

Country	Penetration	Population
Eritrea	6%	5,539,466
Ethiopia	17%	86,067,466
Djibouti	23%	918,422
DRC	23%	69,120,939
Burundi	24%	8,705,833
Malawi	28%	15,705,333
Niger	29%	16,500,502
Madagascar	32%	21,775,172
Mozambique	33%	24,338,816
Comoros	33%	768,493
CAR	33%	4,553,398
Somalia	35%	9,737,302

Ethiopia has the second lowest mobile penetration rates in Africa
 (Photo Credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) 

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