Internet the conduit to a digital economy
Business Daily By Mickael Ghossein
Friday, April 26, 2013.
The advent of the Internet set in motion a continuous revolution in the way the world does business, accesses learning resources as well as education and gets to communicate socially every day.
The Internet increasingly informs how we live. This online reservoir of knowledge has unlocked untapped potential, no longer girded by the lack of exposure and opportunity for growth.
Sport, a dynamic discipline that rewards and recognises the best and most dedicated, has also embraced the Internet’s capability to be coach and mentor to the budding sportsman working to master his technique.
The uptake of mobile data and Internet in Kenya has increased year on year. The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), in its most recent sector report for October to December 2012, puts mobile data subscriptions at 16.2 million, up from 14.5 million in the previous quarter. Internet on the go has become the preferred option of accessing data, dominating the sector.
Mobile Internet subscriptions contributed to 99.0 per cent of the total internet/data subscriptions between October and December 2012. With increased mobile Internet uptake, e-platforms are gaining popularity, with more consumers making online transactions and accessing services online.
The growing popularity of e-commerce technology in Kenya presents opportunities for start-ups and established businesses alike. This underscores the need for fast and reliable Internet connectivity, enabling business communications via video and teleconferencing solutions and while on the go.
This brings to the fore the next telecommunications frontier – data. To make the online environment secure, the Kenya government intends to set up the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), a national system that will provide digital certification services.
Spearheaded by CCK, the Kenya ICT Board and the Directorate of e-government, the project will deliver an online identity and verification system.
Worthy of note is the fact that this technology is scalable and not restricted to mobile devices. It is also accessible via a host of other devices: one’s desktop computer or laptop using a high-speed modem or a Wi-Fi router.
Mobile network connectivity, which is widely considered as a necessary base infrastructure for future mobile commerce, has paved the way for the convergence of telecommunication services.
This network has become the proverbial highway that allows for access to a wide range of opportunities that can be accessed through the Internet and associated applications.