Sandvine Reveals Latest African Internet Trends

WATERLOO, ON, Nov. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Sandvine (TSX: SVC), a leading provider of intelligent broadband and network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today revealed the latest African Internet usage trends.

The data was collected as part of Sandvine's Global Internet Phenomena Program which, together with Sandvine's Internet Phenomena Blog, is industry-renowned for revealing the latest facts, fads, and future trends about consumer Internet usage from networks around the globe.

Sandvine's solutions are currently being used by more than 30 networks in approximately 20 African countries to provide actionable business intelligence and policy solutions in order to deploy new services and improve subscribers' Internet quality of experience.

Some of the unique traits found on African networks include:

Mobile Networks

• WhatsApp is the leading third-party messaging application, accounting for 7% of total traffic. In North America and Europe it accounts for less than 2% total traffic
• Viber has overtaken Skype as the leading VoIP service on several networks
• Streaming video accounts for just over 6% of downstream traffic, which is significantly lower than North America and Europe where it accounts for more than 30%
• WAP Browsing has seen a significant decline in traffic share thanks to increased adoption of smartphones throughout the region

Fixed Networks

• Streaming video is the leading source of downstream traffic (26%), but is still significantly lower than most other world markets where it is typically the majority of traffic
• YouTube is the top video streaming app, accountable for 12.3% of downstream traffic
• P2P Filesharing still represents over 15% of  total fixed network traffic, likely due to the lack of over-the-top streaming options and the poorer streaming experience afforded by slower networks, compared to downloading content to watch later

"Throughout Africa, communications service providers are rapidly building out their networks to enhance services and extend coverage into new and previously unconnected locations," said Tom Donnelly, Sandvine's COO, Sales and Global Services. "Sandvine's success in Africa has made it possible to reveal the latest regional Internet usage data which our customers can use to help improve subscribers' quality of experience and offer innovative new service tiers."

Join Sandvine at AfricaCom booth B41 from November 11-13 for more insight into Internet trends and network policy control.

ABOUT SANDVINE

Sandvine's network policy control solutions add intelligence to fixed, mobile and converged communications service provider networks to enable services that can increase revenue and reduce network costs. Powered by Sandvine's Policy Engine and SandScript policy language, Sandvine's networking equipment performs end-to-end policy control functions including traffic classification, and policy decision and enforcement across the data, control and business planes.  Sandvine's products provide actionable business insight, the ability to deploy new subscriber services and tools to optimize traffic while enhancing subscriber Internet quality of experience.

Sandvine's network policy control solutions are deployed in more than 250 networks in over 90 countries, serving hundreds of millions of data subscribers worldwide, www.sandvine.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this release which are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of such laws. Statements related to the scope of deployment of Sandvine's products by a specific customer, the potential revenue opportunity with any particular customer or in any market segment, the benefits of Sandvine's products and services to be realized by customers, Sandvine's market position, future opportunities, product development plans and demand for Sandvine's products and services are forward looking statements, as are any statements relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sandvine to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.   These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in internal deployment strategies or plans by specific customers; the growth of broadband internet usage and levels of capital spending on broadband network management systems; the timing of orders and manufacturing lead times; changes in customer order patterns or customer mix; insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; increased competition in the broadband network equipment industry; dependence on the timely development and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; manufacturing and sourcing risks including dependence on key suppliers and key technologies; dependence upon indirect channel sales and resellers;  factors such as business and economic conditions and growth trends in the broadband network equipment industry and in various geographic regions; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment including the impact of regulation related to the internet and the delivery of internet services. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and Sandvine does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Sandvine

For further information: INVESTOR CONTACT: Rick Wadsworth, Sandvine, [phone] ext. 3503, [email protected]; MEDIA CONTACT: Dan Deeth, Sandvine, [phone], [email protected]