by thecitizen reporter and agencies

Dar es Salaam. Growth of Internet use in Africa has superseded global average in the last decade reaching 2,000 per cent compared to the global’s 480 per cent.

The significant growth is attributed to information technology (IT) developments in the continent in recent years including improved means of connectivity such as links with the global fibre-optic cables, declining prices of computers as well as increasing access to mobile phone Internet enabled handsets. However, a report by a market research company, Frost &Sullivan, still shows that Internet penetration is still lower in the continent compared to the developed world.

The company’s information and communication technology (ICT) business unit leader for Africa, Ms Birgitta Cederstrom, said the more mature markets in Africa, such as SA, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt, were experiencing the most growth.

“With the new undersea cables and terrestrial fibre roll-out, as well as the satellite influx across Africa, we expect to see close to double-digits in terms of growth in the more mature markets over the next two to three years,” she said.

Undersea fibre-optic cable network operator Seacom recently announced that in 2012, it would upgrade its East African submarine cable and increase capacity to meet rising demand from the continent. Ms Cederstrom says over the next two years, initiatives that would connect West Africa will rise in numbers, increasing the international bandwidth by triple digits.

“This infrastructure boost will lead to an increase in consumer and enterprise demand for broadband. Moreover, the improved connectivity in 2012 will boost the data business sector creating jobs and faster return on investment,” she stated.

Also spurring data services use in Africa for 2012, is the prediction of further price drops during the year.
“Last year, the use of data services in South Africa grew by 28 per cent and we believe in the next two to three years, it will grow to 60 per cent,” Ms Cederstrom added.

In its recent report, The Smart Year 2012, Frost & Sullivan states that owing to rising energy costs, the demand has become apparent for enterprises and consumers in the ICT sector to collaborate in 2012 in finding smarter, more energy efficient technology and adopting renewable energy as a means of reducing costs.

“We predict a higher adoption rate of cooling systems and solar energy in data centres in Africa in 2012,” Ms Cederstrom said.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites