Telecommunications in Guinea Bissau Market Analysis

Guinea-Bissau's telecommunications market is a small but growing industry, with a total of 1.3 million mobile subscribers as of 2020. This represents a penetration rate of just 65% of the population.

The market is dominated by two main players, Orange and Tigo, which together account for around 90% of the market share. This duopoly has led to a lack of competition and high prices for consumers.

Despite these challenges, the market is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for mobile services and the expansion of 4G networks. By 2025, the number of mobile subscribers is forecast to reach 2.1 million.

Guinea-Bissau's infrastructure is a work in progress, with a goal of development dating back to the early 1980s. The country's 4,400 kilometers of roads, with only 453 kilometers paved, has attracted foreign aid.

The main port, Bissau, is a crucial hub for coastal shipping, but water transport needs significant improvement. Guinea-Bissau has many rivers that could be accessible to coastal shipping.

The country had no railways as of 2000, but plans are in place for a European Union-sponsored deep-water port that will specialize in minerals and be linked to Guinea by rail. This will be a major step forward for Guinea-Bissau's infrastructure.

The civil war severely disrupted flights, but the main airport reopened in July 1999. Today, Guinea-Bissau has about 29 airports, with only 3 having paved runways.

The country's telecom industry is dominated by Portugal Telecom, which has a 51 percent stake in Guinea-Telecom. The government has announced its intention to liberalize the industry.

Guinea-Bissau has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa, mostly due to corruption and inefficiency. The country is completely dependent on petroleum products.

Guinea-Bissau has two main Internet Service Providers (ISPs), MTN and Orange, both private companies that offer internet access through mobile broadband (2G to 4G+) and fibre-based internet in select areas.

These ISPs provide a range of internet plans, with prices starting from around 5,000 XOF (approximately USD 8.30) for 5 GB of data, and 10,000 XOF (approximately USD 16.60) for 10-12 GB of data.

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MTN uses its own fibre optic backbone to provide internet services, with international capacity linked through Senegal on the WACS and ACE submarine cables. However, the local submarine cable landing station is not yet operational.

Here's a brief summary of the main ISPs in Guinea-Bissau:

Radio and television in Guinea-Bissau have a limited presence, with only a state-owned TV station and a second station operated by a Portuguese public broadcaster.

There were 49,000 radios in the country as of 1997.

Private radio stations coexist with the state-run broadcaster, but they face challenges such as a lack of reliable power supply.

The media experiences harsh treatment from authorities, security forces, and individuals with connections to the military and drug traffickers, leading to self-censorship.

Following the 2012 coup, the junta shut down all private radio stations and the national television station.

The national broadcaster, Guinea-Bissau National Radio, was allowed to broadcast intermittent military communiqués.

Here's a summary of the radio and television landscape in Guinea-Bissau:

In Guinea-Bissau, you can access the internet through private companies MTN and Orange, which serve as the country's primary Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

MTN and Orange provide a range of internet services, including mobile broadband (2G to 4G+) and fiber-based internet in select areas.

The quality and consistency of internet services vary, with some areas experiencing high unreliability. In fact, some offices in the UN House Penha rely solely on 4G routers and mobile data due to the lack of fibre or VSAT backup.

MTN uses its own fibre optic backbone for internet services, with international capacity linked through Senegal on the WACS and ACE submarine cables.

Here's a brief overview of the ISPs available in Guinea-Bissau:

Internet access is not limited to dial-up, with mobile broadband (2G to 4G+) and fiber-based internet available in select areas.

The UN Security Communications System (SCS) in Guinea-Bissau operates primarily in Bissau, with VHF repeaters supported by satellite phones as backup.

There are two operational VHF repeaters, while several standby units and unused HF antennas remain from past UN missions. VHF channels are standardized for UN agencies, with approximately 320 handheld radios in use, alongside mobile and base stations.

Satellite phones, including Iridium and Thuraya, are distributed among agencies, though not all are fully equipped with docking stations or external antennas. Only WFP vehicles are currently fitted for satellite phone use.

Here's a breakdown of the existing UN telecommunication systems:

All agencies have access to shared VHF channels, which can be used for communication.

The telecom services market in Guinea-Bissau is growing rapidly, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5% expected from 2024 to 2029. This growth is largely driven by increasing demand for mobile data and fixed broadband services.

The market size in 2024 is estimated to be around $65.1 million. The forecast period for this growth is from 2024 to 2029.

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The telecom services market in Guinea-Bissau is comprised of mobile services, fixed voice services, and fixed-broadband services. These services are provided by leading companies such as MTN Guinea-Bissau and Orange Guinea-Bissau.

Here is a breakdown of the telecom service segments in Guinea-Bissau:

The report provides an executive-level overview of the telecom services market in Guinea-Bissau, including detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2029.

The government of Guinea-Bissau has taken steps to privatize its mobile services brand, Guinetel, by launching an international tender to sell 80% of its capital.

This move is aimed at improving the telecom services market in the country. The government hopes to attract more investment and competition in the sector.

Orange Guinea-Bissau will remain the leading operator in the country's telecom services market through to 2029. The operator is focused on offering a wider range of mobile plans and data bundle offers.

Here are the leading telecom companies in Guinea-Bissau:

The regulatory landscape is a crucial aspect of any market, and Guinea-Bissau's telecom services market is no exception. The government of Guinea-Bissau launched an international tender to sell 80% of the capital in its mobile services brand, Guinetel.

This move is a significant step towards liberalizing the market and encouraging competition. The government aims to attract foreign investment and expertise to boost the sector's growth.

In Guinea-Bissau, the government is actively involved in shaping the telecom services market. The international tender for Guinetel's shares is a key example of this involvement.

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In the telecom industry of Guinea-Bissau, competition is a key aspect of the market. Orange Guinea-Bissau will remain the leading operator through to 2029.

The telecom landscape in Guinea-Bissau is dominated by two major players: MTN Guinea-Bissau and Orange Guinea-Bissau. Orange Guinea-Bissau focuses on offering a larger range of mobile plans and data bundle offers.

These two operators are the leading telecom companies in Guinea-Bissau, and they are likely to continue competing with each other in the future.

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Telecom operators in Guinea-Bissau are taking a significant step towards environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance, demonstrating a growing commitment to ESG initiatives.

Their focus on ESG highlights the importance of considering the environmental, social, and governance aspects of their operations, which is a crucial aspect of sustainable development.

The telecom services market in Guinea-Bissau is expected to grow, with a total telecom services revenue by category projected for 2022-2029, and an FX (foreign exchange) impact on total telecom services revenue by category also considered.

Here's a breakdown of the projected telecom services market outlook:

In Guinea-Bissau, telecom operators are making a concerted effort to prioritize ESG initiatives. This growing commitment to environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance is a notable trend in the region.

Telecom operators in Guinea-Bissau are focused on their ESG initiatives, demonstrating a growing commitment to environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance.

The telecom services market in Guinea-Bissau is expected to see significant growth, with total telecom services revenue by category projected to increase from 2022 to 2029.

Here's a breakdown of the expected growth:

* Total telecom services revenue by category: 2022: [insert data]2029: [insert data]

The impact of foreign exchange (FX) on total telecom services revenue by category is also expected to be a significant factor, with FX fluctuations potentially affecting the market's growth.

Guinea-Bissau has huge opportunities for expanding the Internet and mobile broadband connectivity across the country.

The country's infrastructure is in need of improvement, making it an exciting and vibrant market for businesses to tap into. BusinessCom Networks can help businesses expand into this market cost-effectively, leveraging local knowledge to provide reliable and easy-to-deploy connectivity.

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense has made a significant investment in the OneWeb satellite constellation, which aims to provide global internet connectivity. This investment could potentially bring new opportunities for Guinea-Bissau to expand its internet and mobile broadband connectivity.

Businesses can consider partnering with companies like BusinessCom Networks to take advantage of these untapped opportunities and establish a strong presence in the market.

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In Guinea-Bissau, the fixed broadband lines are expected to grow at a significant rate, with a CAGR of 16% driven by the expansion of fiber networks.

This growth is expected to be driven by improved connectivity, making it easier for people to access the internet and other fixed services.

The fixed services market in Guinea-Bissau is also expected to see growth in terms of penetration and subscription.

Fixed ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and service revenue by service type are also important metrics in this market.

Here are the key statistics for the fixed services market in Guinea-Bissau:

The country's telephone system is relatively small, with a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile-cellular communications.

You can reach Guinea-Bissau by dialing the international call prefix 00, followed by the country's calling code +245.

Here are some key statistics for the country's telephone system:

Mobile-cellular teledensity in Guinea-Bissau approached 50 per 100 persons in 2011, indicating a relatively high level of mobile phone penetration.