Businesses to benefit from ICT investments
Isaac Pinielo | Friday June 5, 2015 15:47
The call was made at the presentation of the 2015 Deloitte Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions held in Gaborone yesterday.
The annual TMT Predictions show technology, media and telecommunications trends will be making an impact within the next 12 months.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Goitsemang Morekisi said as government moves into the preparation of the National Development Plan 11, ICT has been prioritised as an enabler to unlock and catalyse the economy.
“Let me assure you that we can embrace the future with confidence through the Deloitte Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Predictions,” she said.
In addition, Morekisi said Botswana is on the cusp of plunging into a bright future as the country is making final preparations for switching to digital.
She said the predictions are going to play an important role in providing all stakeholders with an appreciation of what the future holds in technology, media and telecommunications. According to Deloitte, in 2015 the pendulum of technology adoption would begin to swing back to the enterprise market, reversing a decade long trend that went the other way – when mass adoption of technologies like large screen smartphones and tablets started with consumer adoption first.
Presenting the predictions, TMT Africa leader, Mark Casey said the end of 2015 would mark the tipping point for the use of mobile phones for in-store payments around the world.
He noted that for the first time, the smartphone upgrade market will exceed one billion, adding that 1.35 billion smartphones will sell worldwide in 2015. “But over a billion of them will be upgrades – new phones for those who already have one,” he explained.
Casey also pointed out that globally, the number of homes with broadband Internet will grow by about two percent to 725 million and average broadband speeds in most countries will increase by 20 percent.
He said the gap between those with access to the fastest broadband speeds and those on basic speeds will continue to widen in 2015, providing a varied experience from home to home; especially for high bandwidth applications like streaming video. He added that over 60 percent of the one billion global wireless Internet of Things (IoT) devices will be bought, paid for and used by enterprises – despite media focus on consumers controlling their thermostats, lights and appliances.
Casey said longer battery life is likely to remain a key factor for consumers choosing their next smartphone.
“The rechargeable, lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery technology used in all smartphones will improve only modestly in 2015, with no more than five percent greater unit charge or milliampere hours (mAh) compared to a 2014 model of the same dimensions and voltage,” he said.
The TMT Predictions are compiled from the findings of worldwide research, supported by in-depth interviews and input from Deloitte member firm clients, Deloitte alumni and industry analysts, leading TMT executives, thousands of Deloitte member firms and TMT practitioners across its global network.