Altimo Index shows the developing telecoms markets barely affected by the crisis.

The Altimo Foundation today releases the fifth edition of the Altimo Mobile Development Index (MDI) computed on the basis of mobile industry data for Q4, 2008 – Q1, 2009.

 
The index highlights the following trends within the global mobile communications market:

• The crisis has much less negative impact on the world’s telecoms industry than on many other sectors of the global economy. The downturn initially prompted a flight to perceived safety in the more established markets. However, this trend has now reversed with a return to perceptions of investment opportunity in emerging markets.

 

• The Asian telecom markets will remain attractive for at least the next three years and will grow despite the economic turmoil. Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines remain in the top five of the Altimo Index.

 

• The CIS region shows the largest increase in MDI, due to the strong performance of Uzbekistan and Russia.

 

• Mature mobile markets in North America and Western Europe continue to offer bleak prospects for investors.

 

• Still, key short term impacts of the global recession are lower ARPU and falling profit margins, which are leading to lower penetration growth and lower capital expenditure.

Kirill Babaev, CEO of the Altimo Foundation, said: “The mobile markets appear unexpectedly resilient against a background of continuing global recession. This has highlighted its appeal for international investors against other industries.”

 

Please see more information at www.altimofoundation.org