Adoption rate of smartphones — as compared to feature phones — is expected to reach 51% by 2020, said a report published by GSMA.
Report titled as “Building Digital Societies in Asia” said that current smartphone adoption rate of 15% in Pakistan is likely to grow to over 300% to reach 51% with-in next five years as primary barrier for adoption of smartphones, i.e. prices are coming down to below $100.
Report said that average price of smartphones dropped down to $200 in 2014, down from $329 in 2008. Further down the line, smartphones below $100 are now becoming a reality, however, there is a clear need for more vendors manufacturing these low prices phones to become more common in growth markets like Pakistan.
Report said that under $100 smartphones currently account for over 40% of total smartphones in India and since below $100 smartphones have started to surface in Pakistan, the smartphone adoption rate will grow incrementally to around 80 million by year 2020.
Report said that ultra-low-end smartphones are of particular relevance in emerging markets because handset subsidy from operators — such as they offer in various developed markets — has comparatively low application in developing markets, making it hard for masses to adopt smartphones.
Moreover, since low-income segment dominates in developing markets, these ultra-low end smartphone becomes handy and only way for them to adopt smartphones and ultimately the internet.
Source: http://propakistani.pk/2015/11/24/pakistan-to-have-51-smartphones-by-2020-gsma/
