Madagascar - Country Commercial Guide
Information and Telecommunications Technology
Last published date: 2021-10-17

Madagascar has a robust ICT sector, with established players dominating the provision of telecommunication services.  Madagascar scored 42.9 points out of 100 in the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).  From 2007 to 2017, internet speed ranged between 144.81Kbps and 3788.46kbps while the number of IP addresses (quarterly) for the same period was 3167.00 (lowest) vs. 34386.00 (highest).  Madagascar has good internet speed, approaching those of industrialized countries and above its peers in the region.  In the past decade, due to the availability of low-cost, high-quality labor and higher than average internet speed, more and more call centers and business outsourcing companies have set up shop in Madagascar, while services have also diversified to keep pace.

Leading sub-sectors 

  • Cloud computing: access to databases and universal services 
  • Application software for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and collaborative apps  
  • Computer systems and software: desktops, laptops, notebooks, peripherals, and servers                                                                           

(Figures in thousands of USD) 

 Hardware

2018

2019

2020

2021 (Jan – June)

Total local production 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total exports 

63

18

89.7

13.1

Total imports 

6,683.9

6,571.0

4,258.1

3,191.6

Imports from the U.S.

149.9

95.0

29.1

40.0

Total market size 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Total market size = (total local production + imports) – exports) 

Data sources: Madagascar Customs  

HTS codes used to produce these numbers are 8443.31.00, 8443.32.00, 8443.39.00 8443.12.00 8443.13.00 for printers, 8528.42.00 8528.52.00 8528.62.00 for monitors, 90.17.20.00 9017.80.00 for computers.

  • Telecommunication equipment and infrastructure including 5G infrastructure
  • E-Commerce
  • Call-centers and outsourcing platforms                               

(Figures in thousands of USD) 

Receptors and transmitters

2018

2019

2020

2021 (Jan – June)

Total local production 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total exports 

552

362

362

166

Total imports 

17,240

16,196

17,561

14,813

Imports from the U.S.

233

378

142

264

Total market size 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Total market size = (total local production + imports) – exports) 

Data sources: Madagascar Customs  

HTS codes used to produce this table are 8527.12.00 8527.19.10 8527.19.90 for receptors and 8517.62.00 and 8517.69.00 for transmitters 

Opportunities 

  • Investment in fast-growing activities (e-commerce) 
  • Planned government procurement  
  • Participation in Trade Fairs (Salon) to introduce and sell products
  • Technology parks
  • Manufacturing and assembly plants for electronic components
  • Computer and telecommunication equipment assembly units
  • Structures for the development of high value-added mobile applications
  • Integration structures of high technology solutions
  • Tele-services companies (call centers, telemarketing, remote data entry, outsourcing…)
  • Consulting companies, subsidiaries of world leading multinationals
  • Training centers offering certification on technologies and international standards in application development, information system audit, security audit, and project management

Resources 

  • website of the regulatory body for telecommunications (ARTEC) http://www.artec.mg/
  • website of Madagascar Telecommunication, Post and Digital Technology (MPTDN): http://www.mptdn.gov.mg/ 
  • website of the association of telecommunications operators (GOTICOM): http://www.gem-madagascar.com/membre/goticom