Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bangladesh Reports Internet Usage Growth

Further evidence of the growing reliance consumption increase of about 10 per first week of March in India, driven by
on telecommunications during the cent. Bangladesh currently consumes official online announcements (such as
Coronavirus pandemic comes from about 1,600 Gbps bandwidth, up from 970 pandemic updates, advice and campaigns)
Bangladesh, where local news reports Gbps a year ago, and 300 Gbps in 2016. as well as general use of social media.
suggest that internet usage has shot up 15 Of the total, BSCCL alone is supplying Meanwhile, India’s ecommerce platforms
per cent. Internet traffic surged soon after about 970 Gbps through its two undersea are enjoying greater usage as people order
the government closed all educational connections. In addition six international staples online (delivery of essentials has
institutions across the country on 16 March terrestrial cable operators are importing not been stopped during the lockdown).
– and of course, many companies have bandwidth from India, which, inevitably, is Of course, the lockdown of the country is
switched to virtual working. In particular experiencing a demand spike of its own. relatively recent, so a further boost in use
Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Figures quoted from market research firm of the internet generally and social media
(BSCCL), the country’s only submarine Nielsen on social media volume indicated specifically is probably on the cards for the
cable company, has reported a bandwidth a surge of fifty times normal levels in the latter half of this month.

Egypt Smartphone Market Accelerates to 16.5% Growth in 2019

Egypt's smartphone phone market has fully of smartphones in 2019 with screen of six increase from 35.6 percent in 2018 to 60.0
recovered from the devastating decline inches and above. Such devices accounted percent in 2019, while the USD 100 band
that hit the market in 2017, according to for 81.1 percent of all smartphones lost half of its volume. IDC expects Egypt's
IDC. Its research shows that smartphone shipped to Egypt in 2019, up from just 13.5 smartphone market to continue growing
shipments to the country increased 16.5 percent in 2018, thanks to strong demand in 2020, although the market will soften in
percent in 2019, accelerating from 3.4 for recently launched models with larger the first half of the year as a result of the
percent growth in 2018. That represents screen sizes. This change in screen size COVID-19 outbreak. IDC forecasts that
a significant turnaround from the 14.4 preferences has also shifted the market smartphone shipments to the Egyptian
percent decline seen in 2017, although the to higher price bands; for example, the market will increase 3.7 percent in 2020,
global fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak USD 100–200 price band saw its share reaching 11.1 million units.
has caused IDC to revise its forecast
for the Egyptian market downwards.
Mobile phone shipments to Egypt
totaled 14.9 million units in 2019, with
smartphones accounting for 72.2 percent
of this total and feature phones making
up the remainder. Samsung maintained
its position as the market's dominant
player throughout the year. Together,
Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi picked up
the slack caused by the decline in Huawei
and Honor shipments following US-led
sanctions, with Oppo particularly focused
on gaining market share in the country.
Transsion's smartphone brands (such as
Infinix, Tecno, and Itel) saw shipments
decline 37.7 percent year on year in 2019
due to the new regulations introduced in
Q1 and heightened competition in the price
bands they operate in. The report says
there was the sharp increase in shipments

65 MARCH 2020