Presenting its outlook for the African telecommunications market in 2014, International Data Corporation (IDC) yesterday predicted a wave of growth in digital and media content over the coming 12 months as smartphone ownership explodes and African telecom users become more sophisticated in their use of mobile applications.
The global research and market advisory firm also identified the ongoing, rapid deployment of 3G networks across the continent and the fledgling expansion of LTE services as key drivers of this growth in content.
Spiwe Chireka, programme manager for telecommunications and media at IDC Africa said “African telecom service providers are intensifying their efforts to develop their own application stores and generate local content, with smartphone shipments up more than 40 per cent year on year in 2013. These developments, coupled with the growth in mobile data consumption through smart devices, are setting the scene for the spread and use of smartphones and mobile applications in 2014.
”Last year marked a turning point for LTE networks in Africa, with the number of commercial deployments in the region increasing to 20, up from 4 in 2012. As a result of this accelerated growth, services such as enterprise mobility are set to become more and more commonplace in the year ahead.”