LUSAKA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's information and communications technology (ICT) sector recorded positive growth last year, the country's telecommunications regulator said Wednesday.
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) said the various sub-sectors of ICT recorded positive growth in 2023 compared to 2022 due to increased investments in the sector.
Hanford Chaaba, ZICTA corporate communications manager, said in a statement that among the subsectors that recorded positive growth are active mobile cellular subscriptions, which increased to 21.1 million in 2023 from 19.8 million in 2022, and the total number of internet subscriptions, which increased to 12.6 million in 2023 from 11.1 million in 2022, reflecting a growth rate of 12.7 percent.
This growth was primarily driven by increased investments in telecommunications networks and more affordable products tailored to consumers' usage patterns and spending capabilities, he said.
Chaaba said the number of mobile cellular subscriptions is expected to continue growing in the subsequent period due to various investments in infrastructure and favorable product offerings developed in the ICT sector, adding that recently licensed operators in the international data market segment are likely to increase connectivity within the region as well as deliver capacity at lower rates.
