Johannesburg office to provide strategic market insight for region's players

Informa Telecoms & Media announced today that it is expanding its global reach by opening a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Africa remains one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets and with the launch of submarine cables in the east, as well as increased interest in mergers and acquisitions, the region will continue to be a high priority for the incumbent players as well as larger and more established operators from all over the world.

"Given the nature of the African market, we feel that now is the perfect time to open an office in the region," commented Martin Hill, MD of Informa Telecoms & Media. "By having an office in such a strategic location, we're adding to our primary research capability and ensuring we remain the best-connected, most reliable research house in the market."

"We are constantly striving to get even closer to the markets that we serve and recognise the importance of having analysts on the ground in all regions around the world. We know that only by having a dedicated team specialised in a specific geography, and with the relevant local network of contacts and language skills, can we credibly ensure our research delivers the granular insights demanded by our global portfolio of clients," he continued.

South Africa was chosen due to its importance in region, both in the field of telecoms and in the economy in general. The office will be headed up by Thecla Mbongue, Senior Analyst for Africa at Informa Telecoms & Media who has been covering the market for 6 years. "The African market still represents a significant opportunity for investors. The number of mobile broadband subscriptions grew by 126% year-on-year in 2Q09, and when the new submarine cables go live, the competition and price reduction will see data connectivity, whether fixed or mobile, continue to grow," commented Mbongue.

"This is a critical time for the region and I look forward to providing crucial support and advice to the region's telecoms and media industry," she concluded

For more information, please contact:

Thecla Mbongue

Informa Telecoms & Media

3 Sturdee Avenue

Rosebank, Johannesburg

South Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 771 7000

or

Denise Duffy

PR Manager

Informa Telecoms & Media

Mob    +44 (0) 7500 3308

Email: denise.duffy@informa.com

Twitter: @informatm_pr

About Informa Telecoms & Media

Informa Telecoms & Media (www.informatm.com) is the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic services to the global telecoms and media markets.  

Providing business critical information

Informa Telecoms & Media (ITM) conducts primary and secondary research on the latest trends impacting the mobile communications, fixed communications and TV sectors, on a global basis. ITM's market intelligence services  - World Cellular Information Service (WCIS), World Broadband Information Service (WBIS) and the Intelligence Centre - give clients access to market forecasts and key performance indicators (KPIs), as well as detailed analysis and exploration of trends.  These comprehensive and reliable data sources combined with access to a team of dedicated analysts provide clients with essential business tools to assist in their strategic and tactical decision making processes.

Creating communities

In addition to the Training Academy, Informa Telecoms & Media delivers the latest industry news and analysis through its range of newsletters, magazines, reports and online information portal  - telecoms.com.  From large exhibitions to intimate networking lunches, Informa Telecoms & Media organises over 100 annual events bringing together the industry's leading decision makers.

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