1. Mobile Monday
Zambia: almost ready for mass
market and mobile Internet?
Mark Bennett
21 May 12

2. Predicted growth of Internet usage
From 2010 to 2020
Some Google Predictions…

3. The effects of the Internet

4. Some other facts

5. In the last 3 minutes

7. But not moving as fast in Zambia
Internet still expensive
Lack of awareness of its usefulness
Lack of Zambian web content
Too few (affordable) Internet devices

8. Why the Internet is expensive in Zambia
Core reasons:
Nearest peering point is in London
Overland cable more expensive than under-sea
Most traffic is international and not in-country
The ISP has to provide new last-mile infrastructure
Power, security etc. are issues and create cost
More expensive still to get to areas outside Lusaka
Support levels are high (ICT literacy levels low)
Up to 40% of an ISP’s income goes in taxes
Costs are not shared: we pay to receive mail and calls as well as
send them.

9. Moving from satellite to fibre
Has allowed
bandwidth to
increase by
thousands of times

10. Coverage Increasing
Mobile phone
coverage
WiMAX
coverage
PLANNED OPTICAL Mbala
FIBRE NETWORK
Kasama
Mansa
Mpika
Lumwana
Solwezi
Luano
Kitwe
Serenje Chipata
Kasempa
Mongu
Kaoma
Lusaka
Kabwe
And prices
Katima
Choma
Kazungula
Kariba
TRANSMISSION
CAPACITY: 2.5 Gbps
falling fast
V/Falls

11. In the future the web must be
Personal
Local
Mobile
Simple
Affordable

12. Some stats from Google..
Showing that internet
usage grows when
people have access to
computer/tablet
devices

13. We will move away from conventional
PCs

14. Our friendly
Nokia is
being
gradually
edged out….

15. There will
soon be
smart
phones
available at
less than $80

16. Nomadic as well as mobile devices
are appearing
And prices
of devices
falling fast

17. So, within a year it is likely that we will have
much cheaper internet and much lower cost
devices…
We may then see mass
market internet use
occurring for the first time
in Zambia.
The key then becomes,
what do we do with it?
What content is there that
will drive the take-up?

18. So what do we expect this large number
of new users to do with internet access?
Portals will be launched with a
dynamic range of materials,
including localised news, music,
entertainment and social
networking.
Facebook already has 200,000+
users in Zambia and now needs
more localisation.

19. Health and Agricultural Information is Key
And language is critical

20. An example of content being built
especially for Zambia
Online eLearning content being developed to cover the
entire Zambian curriculum from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
All early grade material available in English and 8
vernacular languages.
Lesson plans – which use interactive enquiry-based
learning – available for every single lesson.
Every other lesson the students will be using the
computer and will interact with stimulating multi-media
material that is fully Zambian centred.
One year teacher training course also included.

21. A sample lesson and
exercise in English
and Nyanja

22. An online language lesson, which is also voiced and animated to
make literacy fun

23. Differentiated interactive group learning is being introduced

24. Other facilities being introduced for rural areas,
including access to agricultural information and learning

25. Target < $10 per child per term
For the total package, to include all
equipment needed, as well as the
learning content and support

26. Also to be available
via open internet and
in App form for smart
devices
Will include health,
agricultural, trading
and other services for
local communities

27. Can we reach 2 million
Internet users by next year?
And can we give them all the
content they need?
Thank you!