Morocco loyal to payphone for overseas calls

Details: Alec Barton; Category: Trends & Forecasts; 20 June 2006; 9739 views

GSM penetration in Morocco topped the 40% mark last year - and yet some 80% of GSM users are still using payphone services for national calls.

User habits within this predominately prepaid market are revealed within a new Arab Advisors Group survey of Moroccan GSM users. The survey revealed that while a substantial portion of GSM users in Morocco (47.1%) use the GSM service for international calls, a larger number (53.1%) use the payphone service.

As Morocco prepares to award new 3G cellular licences in 2006, the upcoming cellular operators and the GSM incumbents must address the low usage levels of prepaid GSM users in the country to enhance the prospects of success. The average monthly minutes of usage for prepaid GSM users in Morocco is less than 20 minutes compared to more than 350 minutes for GSM postpaid users.

"Morocco GSM Users Survey 2006" has 115 pages and 187 detailed examples, providing the results of a major comprehensive survey of the GSM services usage patterns and habits of GSM subscribers across Morocco . The survey's fieldwork was conducted in April and May 2006. The report also provides statistical analysis of the results and detailed cross tabulations.

"Morocco GSM Users Survey 2006" was released by the Arab Advisors Group on June 13, 2006, at US$3,500 for subscribers to Arab Advisors Strategic Research Services. Non-subscribers can order the report for US$4,500.