Smartphone penetration in South Africa hits major milestone

The sales of smartphones are now outstripping sales of feature phones in South Africa, the director of integrated mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa, Craige Fleischer, has said.
“Smartphone penetration has passed the one-third mark in South Africa to top anywhere from 37% – 45%,” said Fleischer.
“Once everyone uses a smartphone, the country’s mobile digital environment will be fully inclusive and consumers will have access to revolutionary ways to do business, transact, connect and be entertained.”
The GSMA’s mobile economy report states that Sub-Saharan Africa will add 400 million new smartphone connections by 2020, which will be a major driver of economic progress and welfare.
According to the report, the near ubiquity of high-speed broadband access and high levels of smartphone ownership in future will be the foundation of the new digital ecosystem.
“Innovation will thrive as app developers and disruptive new business models emerge to take advantage of smartphone features like GPS, advanced stills and video cameras, near field communications payment and sharing ability, wearables integration and smart home integration,” Fleischer said.
“The Android ecosystem, as the dominant smartphone operating system worldwide, will lead innovation in the smartphone arena.”
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