In today's world, information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential tool for every country. It's not only about emailing or making phone calls; the use of ICT in day-to-day life means connecting to people and getting things done through digital documents and forms. Without ICT, some basic functions such as banking, purchasing, and registering to vote would be much more difficult. For this reason, it's critical that every country invests in and supports its ICT infrastructure.
Which Countries Have The Best ICT Infrastructure?
If you're looking for the Best ICT Shop in Kenya , where do you start? There are many different companies that sell electronics, networking, and telecommunication equipment, so the first step is to narrow down your search to items specifically for businesses or ministries of governments. The best news is: you can buy all of those things in one shop! That's right, you'll find all the major brands, including Apple, Cisco, HP, and more, in one place. You can't make that kind of choice in most big cities, so it's great that you can have everything in one location when you're in smaller towns and villages.
Why Is Kenya's ICT Infrastructure So Special?
There are actually four important factors that make Kenya's ICT infrastructure so special: number one, the level of internet access compared to other countries; number two, the level of device penetration compared to other countries; number three, the variety of devices available for purchase; and number four, the price of those devices. Let's explore each factor a little bit.
Firstly, the level of internet access in Kenya is absolutely extraordinary. In fact, according to Cisco, there are 9.2 million internet users in Kenya. If you compare that to the United Kingdom, which has the second-highest amount of internet users globally with 147.2 million users, the amount of internet access in Kenya is almost 300% higher than in the UK. Not only that, but the country also has one of the fastest connection speeds in the world, provided by Akamai Technologies. All of this makes it clear that Kenya has some serious digital ambition, and it's one that it's investing heavily in.
A similar story can be told for the second factor, the level of device penetration. In Kenya, there's a mix of different devices used everyday, with almost 80% of the population using a smartphone. That's more than double the amount in the UK (38%). And since mobile data has become so cheap, it's a total no-brainer for people in Kenya to use their devices to access the internet, especially since 4G is available in many parts of the country. In fact, it's estimated that by 2022, there will be 40.9 million 4G subscribers in Kenya. That's a significant amount of mobile data usage for a country whose total population is only 43.7 million.
If you're looking for devices used by large companies, you can't go wrong with Cisco, HP, and Apple equipment. And since all of those companies make a range of computing products, from tablets to laptops, desktops to servers, and storage to networking, the selection is huge. It really is something special.
What Are The Most Popular Devices In Kenya?
With so many different devices available, the most popular ones in Kenya will vary from person to person. However, it's generally agreed that the three most popular devices for use in businesses and ministries in the country are: Google Chrome, Apple Macs, and Microsoft Windows. (Forbes) With so many people using these devices every day, it's not surprising that they're so popular. (CNET)
Do Ministries And Countries Rely Mostly On In-House Purchasing Or Do They Trade With Other Nations?
Countries often have a mix of in-house purchasing and outsourcing when it comes to technology. However, historically, most countries rely heavily on in-house purchasing, so it comes as no great surprise that Kenya is in a similar situation. The vast majority of the country's ICT devices are bought in-house, with only small percentages going to market. It means there's a lot of focus on efficiency and cost-cutting, with businesses and government entities looking to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. The result is that vendors are forced to offer fantastic value for the money, as there's nowhere else to sell their products. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
In a nutshell, if you're looking for a bargain, then it's best to look for unlocked smartphones and tablets being imported from other countries. These will have a greater chance of working than devices purchased directly from the local mobile phone network. As for getting value for money, you'll be hard-pressed to find a device that doesn't work as advertised and is of good quality.
Which Brands And Products Do Nations In Africa Prefer?
Since most businesses and governments in Africa rely heavily on in-house purchasing, it makes sense that they'd put a lot of focus on branding and quality assurance. As a result, many devices will have a local trademark, with products manufactured under the same brand being guaranteed to function the same way. Apart from local brands, quality control and warranty provisions are also important, so you can be sure that devices are built to a high standard and won't malfunction after a few hours of use.
How Is The Availability Of Data Across Africa?
One of the serious challenges facing businesses, governments, and citizens everywhere is the paucity of data. We all have an ever-increasing appetite for digital information, with people constantly looking for better ways to get the data they need without having to go through the effort of collecting it themselves. (Oberlo)
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, keeping track of data is now a whole lot easier. Instead of having to go from computer to computer to find the file you need, you can simply enter the keyword or phrase you're looking for in the search bar of your phone or laptop and click the “search” button. (Apple)
This is also true of Africa. Thanks to mobile data and affordable home internet connections, people are able to access the internet wherever they are. If you're in a village without a reliable electrical grid, it's still possible to get online using a mobile phone or laptop. (Oberlo)
In most places in Africa, you'll find plenty of wireless internet hotspots, especially around large cities. You'll also find a variety of internet tools and apps available for download that make keeping track of, and accessing, data a whole lot easier. (Oberlo)
What About The Cost Of Data In Africa?
Even in-house purchasing can end up being fairly costly, especially if you want to purchase multiple devices of the same kind. This is one of the primary reasons why many countries in Africa opt for outsourcing as much as possible, especially when it comes to purchasing technology for businesses and ministries. It's an efficient manner of doing things when you're buying in bulk, and it helps to reduce costs significantly. (Oberlo)
The good thing about outsourcing is that there's usually no upselling once the order is completed. The manufacturer will generally give you a good enough device for the price you paid if anything goes wrong. This is ideal for large-scale purchases and can also significantly reduce the cost of doing business or serving the public.
How Is The Security Of Data In Africa?
Just like any other area of technology, the security of data is also a major concern. Whether you're connecting to public wifi hotspots that anyone can access or using a virtual private network (VPN) to securely connect to sensitive business applications and databases, ensuring data is kept secure is an essential step. (Oberlo)
There are a variety of measures that can be taken to improve the security of data, from using a VPN to encrypting data at rest to having a robust password policy. (Oberlo)
Many companies offer excellent dedicated security software that can easily be introduced into businesses and governments. (Oberlo)
Encryption isn't a one-way street, either. Even when data is encrypted at rest on a device, it can still be accessed if the encryption keys are lost or stolen. With mobile phone encryption becoming a thing and more people relying on their phones for bank details and other personal information, security becomes even more of a major issue.