New research shows that\u00a0the main driver for smartphone\u00a0uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa\u00a0is consumers\u2019 growing need\u00a0to access the internet.<\/p>\n
Ericsson has released its first regional consumer insight report focusing on trends and analysis of the mobile ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n
In its\u00a0Ericsson ConsumerLab Report, the technology company found that 44% of people aim to get a smartphone in order to surf the internet, with 34% wanting to go on social networking sites.<\/p>\n
56% of respondents\u00a0who currently do not browse the internet on their mobile\u00a0phone are interested in doing so in the future,\u00a0Ericsson said.<\/p>\n
This ConsumerLab report also showed that the top three communication services used (other than voice) are sending\/receiving SMS messages (72%), social networking (44%), and browsing the internet (43%).<\/p>\n
Ericsson’s\u00a0Shiletsi Makhofane said: “Our analysis shows that the entry of low-cost smartphone handsets in the market will allow people from different social classes to benefit from an integrated ecosystem.”<\/p>\n
“The smartphone will become key to accessing the internet, which we believe will change the regional status quo and enable a level of connectivity not seen before.”<\/p>\n
“Add to this the on-going installation of submarine cables and country\/city fiber-optic networks across the continent, and we\u2019ll see a significant increase in the potential for connectivity and supporting infrastructure for greater data consumption.”<\/p>\n
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