Huawei ranks Kenya top in Internet usage

A woman using a smartphone. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By NASIBO KABALE

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Summary

• Huawei awarded Kenya a Global Connectivity Index (GCI) score of 29 out of 100.
• The barometer explores how 79 countries are deploying broadband networks and investing in a range of enabling technologies that drive the digital transformation of industry, cities and government.
• Kenya ranks 68 out of 79 countries beating Ghana which is ranked 69. South Africa However takes the lead among African nations at position 46 while Egypt, Morocco and Algeria are ranked at 59, 65 66 respectively.

Chinese IT giant Huawei has ranked Kenya top among sub-Saharan countries in Internet connectivity and technology usage.

Huawei awarded Kenya a Global Connectivity Index (GCI) score of 29 out of 100.

The barometer explores how 79 countries are deploying broadband networks and investing in a range of enabling technologies that drive the digital transformation of industry, cities and government.

Kenya ranks 68 out of 79 countries beating Ghana which is ranked 69. South Africa However takes the lead among African nations at position 46 while Egypt, Morocco and Algeria are ranked at 59, 65 66 respectively.

United States is first with a score of 78, Singapore is second with 75 and Sweden ranks third with 73.

The Huawei GCI report states that Kenya has improved scores in the assessment of its Mobile broadband (MBB) subscription and smartphone penetration rate. In addition, both bandwidth and MBB affordability have increased the country’s last year score by 1 point in GCI 2018. It also says that Kenya should focus on digital innovation and governance to achieve rapid and sustained growth. Kenya also needs to fast-track planning and implementation of information and communication technologies in to increase the efficiency of Internet service delivery.

The GCI 2018 report, now in its fifth year, found that industries across the globe are embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) in key enabling technologies and unleashing innovation to propel a new wave of economic growth.

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