Drop in ICT gadget prices to propel sector’s growth

Zimbabwe, fuelled by heavy investment in telecommunication infrastructure especially in mobile telecommunications and ICT segments.
In a statement, Mr Mukusha said demand will mainly rise due to dropping of smart phone prices and increased quest for broadband services.
“As prices drop, smart phones and tablets (iPad and cheaper tablet alternatives from Asian manufacturers) demand will lead to more growth, but also to more content and application creation. Their adoption will spread like wildfire across Zimbabwe.
“Niche competitors may yet have a more successful service focus than the do everything, control everything big company concept. Operators and the Government will have to choose between several complex and expensive technology upgrades,” he said.
“Within five years from now, households will start equipping themselves with modems known as dongles, CDMAs, IP phones and multi-play boxes.”
He said demand for more broadband and what it can deliver to Zimbabweans had become a reality, especially among the young generation, hence increasing demand for ICT products.
“Fibre roll-out planned between now and 2015 along the African coast will involve more aggressive efforts to attract customers, enterprises and service providers to join their network hence operators will then need to establish strategies in order to keep them loyal.
“More competition is likely to lead to improved customer relationships, reinforced by better web management strategies and operators have the opportunity to engage with social networking services to generate additional clients, traffic and revenues,” he said.
Mr Mukusha said in light of the rapid economic developments in Zimbabwe, markets will be looking to cope by transforming their business models.
He said this would lead to the rise in emerging Zimbabwean enterprises that will drive a new wave of ICT spending.
“The consumerisation of ICT has created new demands in office environments and organisations will pilot new mobile services and initiatives this year.
“Additionally, with smart phones unit shipment projected to exceed personal computers volume in 2012, about sub-$100 smart phones will be introduced in the market and the entrance of middle class smart phones will bring new revenue streams and opportunities for service providers in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Mukusha said 2012 would be a momentous year for the ICT industry globally and in Zimbabwe.
He said local organisations would need to further invest in their websites to get wider visibility if they wanted to attract more clients and partners.
“Some Government ministries, especially the regulators, will be required to provide more transparency about their market and will need to improve their web visibility with up-to-date information as this will further attract investments.
“This move will definitely increase the demand for ICTs this year and some few years to follow,” he said.