More Ugandans are getting their devices to the existing telecom networks–One million, three hundred thousand mobile handsets (1.3m) devices to be exact. These devices were added to the network in Uganda in the three months ending December 2021, a report compiled by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) indicates.
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This growth in devices is the highest net quarterly addition reported in the last 12 months, according to the market performance report covering the period October – December 2021. The report further states that a total of 34 million devices were connected to the network by December 2021, including mobile handsets, laptops, and tablets.
During the quarter under review, basic handsets (make phone calls and send text messages) shrunk by more than 15,000, maintaining the downward trend witnessed in the preceding three quarters.
As basic mobile phones reduced from 3,949,752 in June 2021 to 3,532,047 in December 2021, feature phones increased from 18,524,536 to 20,519,692 during the same period. Like feature phones, smartphones increased too, from 9,729,758 in June 2021 to 10,098,098 in December 2021.
However, the report points out that the sustained withdrawal of basic handsets from the market has exacerbated waste disposal challenges.
“The withdrawal of basic handsets terminals from networks more than ever puts pressure on industry actors to mainstream e-waste management policies as the market migrates to new data-centric technologies (3G, 4G, and hopefully 5G networks),” the report states. Market research conducted by the Commission estimates that more than 4.5 tonnes of electronic waste are collected in Uganda annually.
The national e-waste management facility was commissioned in June 2021 while sector (telecom and broadcast) waste disposal guidelines are under development.
Globally, the market registered a 40 million growth in the number of smartphone shipments, translating into nearly 10% quarter-on-quarter growth.
Apple led in total shipments market share with 85 million phones sold, accounting for 23% of total phone sales during the period. It was followed by Samsung and Xiaomi which accounted for 19% and 12% share of global shipments respectively.
In terms of last-mile voice connectivity, the quarter under review registered a 1.05 million jump in subscriptions, a 4% quarter-on-quarter growth, and a 9% annual growth in the 12 months ending December 2021. Accordingly, both fixed and mobile subscriptions grew from 29.1 million in September to 30.2 million in December 2021, the report says.
Regarding last-mile broadband connections, subscriptions grew from 22 million in September to 23.9 in December 2021. This essentially means that one (1) in every two (2) Ugandans has a broadband connection.
“The quarterly peak performance during 4Q21 (1.8 million new subscriptions) is attributed to traditional seasonal demand of the festive season characterized by heavy promotional campaigns for both gadgets and data offerings as well as continued loosening restrictions on cross-boarder travel,” the report states.
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