INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
The 2019 trends impacting mobile
tech on the African continent
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A
ccording to the GMSM Mobile
Economy 2018 report for Sub-
Saharan Africa, mobile subscribers
rose by 44% in 2017 and this was further
bolstered by an increase in smartphone
penetration that rose by 75%. Mobile
broadband is anticipated to comprise 87%
of total connections by 2025 across 690
million smartphones.
According to Joachim Wuilmet, Head of
Customer Marketing and Communications
MEA at Nokia, Africa is poised at the edge
of an evolution, ready to show the rest of
the world what it can do with a handful
of innovation and a commitment to
improving infrastructure.
“People in Africa are increasingly connected
and most market players are focused on
bringing this connectivity into rural areas
and all aspects of society,” he said.
“Currently, Sub-Saharan Africa is still locked
into 2G, but this is about to change. The
move from 2G to 3G requires significant
investment and access to the right devices and
technology, but then it becomes easier as 4G
is a natural evolution. Currently it is a 3G and
4G play with 4G launching in some countries.”
Mobile broadband is anticipated
to comprise 87% of total
connections in Sub-Saharan
Africa by 2025
The shift from 2G to 4G on the continent is
being driven by both improved infrastructure
and access to cost-effective smartphones.
This allows for more people to experience
the benefits of 3G and 4G in terms of
connectivity, efficiency and mobile
capabilities. That said, the continent’s slow
and steady shift away from 2G doesn’t
mean that 5G is an afterthought.
“There are some impressive innovations
around 5G in Africa and some commercial
sites in South Africa have started roll-out
already,” added Daniel Jaeger, Market Unit
Head, Central, East, West Africa at Nokia.
“However, we need to keep perspective – we
need to reach as many people as possible,
migrating them to 3G and increasing
smartphone penetration – before we
leapfrog to 5G. Africa is poised to take
advantage of the latest technologies
to ensure modernisation of mobile
infrastructure and potential, but it must be
done intelligently.”
In addition to the connectivity and the
platforms, mobile operators will be focusing
on software and how to deliver services in
more effective ways. Insights gleaned from
software and data will see them streamline
operations and provide more targeted and
relevant solutions.
“Companies are focusing on their
backhaul and the new spectrum, looking
to strategically build networks in the right
places and to take advantage of the
technology that’s sitting and waiting for the
right opportunity to thrive,” added Jaeger.
“The continent will be chasing the potential
of 5G, but the focus will be measured and
strategic to ensure uptime, security and long-
term capability.” n
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