This is a list of mobile network operators in Uganda: [1] [2]
Note: K2 Telecom operates as a component of Airtel Uganda. [8]
As of June 2017 [update] , there were an estimated 20.4 million mobile subscribers out of an estimated population of 39.6 million; [9] a 51.5 percent penetration rate. [10] By March 2018, the number of mobile phone users had increased to 24.8 million, a 70.9 percent penetration rate. [11] As of June 2020, the number of mobile telephone customers were estimated at 25.5 million, as reported by the Daily Monitor newspaper. [12] That figure had increased to 26.5 million at the end of September 2020. [13]
As of 31 March 2017, Uganda had the 18th highest Internet usage rate in Africa (out of 58 countries). The country had 13,023,114 Internet users out of a population of 41,652,938, bringing the Internet penetration rate to 31.3 percent. [14] As of September 2020, Uganda recorded 20.1 million Internet users, [13] out of an estimated mid-year population of 41.58 million, [15] bringing internet penetration to 48.3 percent, nationwide. [13]
As of 31 March 2022, according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), there were a total of 30.6 million active telephone lines in the country. The mid-year national population was estimated 44.2 million people. This calculates at 69 active lines per 100 Ugandans or 80 percent for Ugandans aged 15 and above. [16]
The table below illustrates the market share of each of the major mobile network operators in the country, as of December 2021. [3]
Rank | Name of Operator | Millions of Customers | Market Share (%) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | MTN Uganda | 16.7 | 47.5 |
2 | Airtel Uganda | ||
3 | UTel | ||
4 | Lycamobile | ||
4 | Roke Telkom Uganda | ||
5 | SmileTelecom Uganda | ||
Total | 35.2 | 100.00 | |
When Africell exited Uganda, after 7 October 2021, a total of 3.3 million mobile subscribers in Uganda were up for grabs between the remaining four mobile network operators in the country. [17] [18]
Telecommunications in Burkina Faso include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
Telecommunications in Ghana include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
Nigeria is Africa's largest ICT market, accounting for 82% of the continent's telecoms subscribers and 29% of internet usage. Globally, Nigeria ranks 11th in the absolute number of internet users and 7th in the absolute number of mobile phones.
There are a number of systems of communication in Uganda, including a system of telephony, radio and television broadcasts, internet, mail, and several newspapers. The use of phones and the internet in Uganda has rapidly increased in the last few years.
Bharti Airtel Limited, commonly known as (d/b/a) Airtel, is an Indian multinational telecommunications services company based in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, as well as the Channel Islands. Currently, Airtel provides 4G and LTE Advanced services all over India and 5G service in selected cities. Currently offered services include fixed-line broadband, and voice services depending upon the country of operation. Airtel had also rolled out its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology across all Indian telecom circles. It is the largest mobile network operator in India and the second largest mobile network operator in the world. Airtel was named India's 2nd most valuable brand in the first ever Brandz ranking by Millward Brown and WPP plc.
The Uganda Communications Commission(UCC) is the government regulatory body of the communications sector in Uganda. Although owned by the Ugandan government, it acts independently. Its mandated responsibilities include licensing, regulation, communications infrastructure development and the expansion of rural communications service.
Uganda Telecommunications Corporation Limited (UTCL), also (UTel), is an information and communication technology network company in Uganda owned by the government of Uganda. UTel acquired the assets and some of the liabilities of the defunct Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) which was also owned by the Ugandan government. UTL was previously in receivership which it entered after the Libyan company that owned about 69 percent shares abandoned the investment in 2017.
Standard Chartered Uganda, whose official name is Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited but is often referred to as Stanchart Uganda, is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the banks licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the central bank and national banking regulator.
MTN Uganda is the largest telecom company in Uganda, with 11.2 million subscribers, accounting for 55 percent market share, as of 30 June 2017. By 31 December 2019, its customer base had increased to 12.6 million customers. In March 2021, the Uganda Communications Commission estimated the number of MTN customers in Uganda at 15 million, out of 28.3 million mobile network subscribers, thereby attaining a 53 percent market share.
Airtel Africa plc, commonly known as (d/b/a) Airtel, is an Indian multinational company that provides telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries in Africa, primarily in East, Central and West Africa. Airtel Africa is majority owned by the Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel. Airtel Africa offers mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally. Airtel Nigeria is the most profitable unit of Airtel Africa, due to its cheap data plans in Nigeria. As of March 2019, Airtel had over 99 million subscribers in the continent. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
K2 Telecom is a telecommunications network company in Uganda. It was established in January 2013. By November 2015, the company's estimated its number of subscribers at about 200,000.
Africell Group is a mobile technology company providing voice, messaging, data, mobile money and other integrated telecoms services to almost 20 million subscribers across Africa.
Africell Uganda, whose full legal name was Africell Uganda Limited (AUL), was an information and communication technology network company in Uganda. It was the third-largest telecommunications company in the country, by customer numbers. However, the company closed all its businesses in Uganda in 2021 based on a careful assessment of the long-term commercial outlook for the business.
Airtel Uganda Limited is a mobile communications and information technology services provider in Uganda. The company also offers mobile funds transfer and banking services known as Airtel Payments Bank. Airtel Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC.
Roke telkom is a telecommunications company based in Uganda. It was licensed by Uganda Communications Commission in 2006.
MTN South Sudan is the largest telecommunications company in South Sudan, with an estimated 1,700,000 subscribers, accounting for 61.8 percent market share, as of 31 December 2020.