Knowledgeable Forecast of Nigeria's Mobile Handset Market up to 2007

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2005--Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28140) has announced the
addition of Mobile Handsets in Nigeria to their offering.


The mobile market has grown to 16 million subscribers in four years
but still only covers 12.3% of the population of about 130 million.
The report tells more about the growing mobile market of Nigeria by
giving an in-depth analysis about the mobile handsets market in
Nigeria. It looks specifically at the current state, future potential
and latent opportunities based on current profiles and preferences of
phone owners and providing a forecast of the Nigerian mobile handset
market up to 2007, while revealing most sought after brands and
handsets models as well as the underlying reasons for market demands.

Driven by stable liberalization and competition, companies are unable
to assess the performance of their competitors with accuracy. If the
point is driven further, it clearly shows that both investors and
operators are finding it increasingly difficult not to be involved
with Nigeria. Thus, dismissing the notion about Nigeria as a high risk
market.

As with technologies elsewhere in Africa, the growth of mobiles
appears in large part to have been driven by the comparatively young
(18-34) and its users are predominantly (67%) though not exclusively
male. Interestingly, younger women are more likely to have a phone and
therefore usage will increase as existing users grow older. In a
society where television and newspapers are a minority media, the
mobile has become almost a form of media in itself with people using
it to keep ahead of what is happening in their world.

The main barriers to mobile phone growth amongst non-users have been
identified as insufficient income (41%) and high price of handsets
(27%). This is in line with research by the global GSM Association
that pinpointed the cost of handsets as the single biggest obstacle to
affordability in emerging markets. It becomes imperative to work with
mobile handset vendors to target cheap and affordable phones. Handset
manufacturers (particularly Motorola) have pioneered an initial US$50
handset that over time as demand increases will fall to US$40.

This sounds promising, but it would remain a challenge where nearly
80% of distribution in Nigeria is in the so-called "grey market" where
dealers seek to maximize price reductions. Estimates given, provides a
distinction that for every appointed dealer there are about 30 grey
market dealers. Though such a disordered market structure often makes
it frustrating for manufacturers in this field to increase sales, it
does ensure that competition brings down prices. Doubtless many of the
phones sold are either secondhand or refurbished and their sellers
have mostly avoided paying import tariffs.

The Mobile Handset Report is your invaluable source for the latest
market intelligence in order to improve your competitive depth and
overall business outcomes.

Companies Mentioned:

Alcatel

Amoisonic

Bird

LG

Motorola

NEC

Nokia

Panasonic

Phillips

Sagem

Samsung

Siemens

Sony-Ericsson

Trium

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28140