Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has recorded an increase of 1.8 million mobile subscriptions between 2020 and end of June 2021.
And ZICTA has projected increase in the uptake and usage of digital financial services in 2022.
ZICTA public relations officer Hanford Chaba tells Q news that the projected increase is anchored on the number of mobile network subscriptions that the authority is receiving from members of the public.
MR. CHABA further discloses that the projected increase is also anchored on the noted increase in the number of mobile subscription from about 17.9 million in 2020 to about 19.7 million as at June 2021 representing a 9.8 percent increase.
He states that the aforementioned increase is a good rider for ZICTA which also gives the authority confidence of having more subscriptions in 2022 which will in turn result in increased uptake of digital services.
MR. CHABA has further disclosed that the value of electronic money transactions in Zambia has increased from k43.1 billion recorded in the first half of 2020 to k76 billion in the first half of 2021 reflecting an increase of 76.2 percent.
He states that the growth in mobile network subscriptions represents an improvement in the mobile penetration rate from 100.2 percent recorded at the end of June, 2020 to 107.0 percent recorded at the end of June, 2021.
He has since urged both business and individuals to adapt to new and emerging innovations and technologies on the market which have emerged as a game changer in so far as digital financial inclusion is concerned.