South Africa Sets the Scene

netsize — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:00:40 +0000

South Africa, a vast country the size of France, Spain and Netherlands together, is also the largest and most developed mobile market in Africa. Is this country already on your business radar?

South Africa has a population of approximately 47.9 million people, with a median age of 24 years. The country has 11 official national languages, and English is the common business language. As at end 2008, the mobile penetration is estimated at 105%, with some 85% being prepaid customers.

The largest mobile network operator is Vodacom (52% market share, source: Vodacom), MTN is second (35% market share, source: MTN) and Cell C, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Oger Telecom, is third (4.2 million subscribers, 8.8% market share, source: Cell C). Some 7% have 3G subscriptions.

Mobile, anyone?

South Africa is a very attractive market for mobile services. According to a report from Frost & Sullivan, demand for mobile content services in South Africa will grow by an average of 15 per cent per year until 2013.

It is also the most advanced mobile territory in Africa, with a European-style infrastructure, and consumers whose first introduction to telecoms and the web comes from mobile. Mobile broadband usage is as common as fixed line.

The Mobile Marketing Association recently released some interesting statistics about the phenomenal growth in this market and the current state of mobile adoption in South Africa, as summarized in an article by 20fourLabs.

South Africa is a nation sparkling with confidence, higher than many parts of the world (source: Bureau for Economic Research), and with great ambitions as the 2010 World Cup is gripping this sports mad country!

Launching mobile content services in South Africa

In November Netsize launched its mPayment operator-based billing solution with South Africa coverage with MO premium and MT premium billing. On Vodacom and MTN (total 87% market share) both MT and MO premium are available, and a long number for sending and receiving messages.

Multiple price points per short code are possible. MO premium is available on Cell C with a single price point per short code. For the most common price points shared short codes will be available.

Applications …

Popular mobile applications include banking (money transfer services), advertisement (mobile marketing) and entertainment (content/infotainment and social networking).

Whereas traditional direct marketing and online marketing is costly and less effective due to the language situation and lack of broadband access, mobile is providing an alternative marketing channel. Direct and personal, it has the widest reach of all in this vast country.

With 4 times more people using sms than email, it is clear that in this country the mobile is everyone’s “first screen.”

Regulatory aspects

As most countries, South Africa has put in place industry self regulation. The WASPA Code of Conduct promotes fairness and decency in dealings with subscribers and members in the content value chain.

Advertising must follow the rules in the Advertising Code of Conduct, with clear communication on pricing matters. Operators have set some specific rules as well in particular for MT subscription services.

Online seminar

If you would like to know more on how to launch mobile content services in South Africa and Netsize mobile messaging, billing and marketing solutions, we invite you to view the Netsize online seminar on South Africa at www.netsize.com.

Netsize Expands into South Africa and Russia

netsize — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:40 +0000

Netsize acquires mobile services provider Africa2you’s assets and extends Netsize mPayment with full coverage of mobile network operators in South Africa
Netsize mPayment offers subscription services billing with MTS in Russia

Netsize, a leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today announces that it has extended the network coverage of Netsize mPayment, its solution for global remote payments, with three mobile network operators in South Africa, Vodacom, MTN, and soon, Cell-C.

The expansion follows the acquisition by Netsize of Africa2you’s assets, a wireless services provider based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“South Africa is at the forefront of mobile, having one of the highest growth rates for mobile content services,” says Stanislas Chesnais, Chairman and CEO, Netsize. “With Netsize mPayment, content providers can use operator-based billing for charging pay-per-use and subscription services.”

In addition, Netsize announces the availability of subscription services billing with Netsize mPayment on the network of MTS, the largest mobile network operator in Russia with close to 66 million subscribers.

Netsize mPayment enables clients to define alias, end user price point, billing frequency, retry scheme and expiry date. End users confirm their subscription service opt-in by sending an SMS MO message. Opt-in through WAP or PIN-code authenticated web request will be available in the first quarter of 2010.

The new services will be presented in a live online seminar on November 26, 2009.
For more information and to register for this seminar please visit www.netsize.com

Netsize news - Mobile payments, marketing, premium & bulk sms mms messaging » South Africa

South Africa Sets the Scene

Netsize Expands into South Africa and Russia