Lockdown - A blessing in disguise for the ICT Sector

Many things have happened in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in 2020, but one can summarise it all in just two words: accelerated adoption.

Adoption of digital tools increased massively, and we’ve all been quite surprised by the maturity of some of the technological capabilities. Collaboration tools now make it easy to hold board meetings with one board member in Nairobi, another in London, a few in Cape Town, and a number in Johannesburg... and it all works! I’m not predicting the end of in-person meetings by any means, but this has certainly opened up a degree of flexibility in how we approach things that, barely 12 months ago, we collectively would have thought impossible.

Digitalisation in general has accelerated hugely through Covid-19, partly through necessity (as organisations were forced to find ways to reach customers in situations where physical stores or branches were closed). The paradox is that this is nothing that hasn’t been in the pipeline for quite a long time; it’s just that companies and customers adopted these digital tools at a far more rapid rate than had previously been imaginable.

I've been in tech for close to 30 years, and if I stand back and think of the scale on which many advances have become reality – especially in the past three to five years – it’s phenomenal.

Internet access needs to be thought of as basic right

At the same time, there is a growing digital divide between those who have/can afford internet access and those who don’t. I believe reliable, cheap internet access should be thought of by all as a basic human right.

With this mindset, companies and communities will start to close the digital divide. For example, as part of Old Mutual’s 175th birthday celebrations, we announced our Africa’s Biggest Digital Classroom initiative to extend the Group’s financial education-based work. In order to do this, we are working in partnership to not only deliver the content but also to help teachers and learners learn digital skills and get access to devices and internet.

As we at Old Mutual think about the challenge of internet for all, we are considering a whole set of options; can our branches across the continent be local hotspots? Can we partner with providers to set up in community hotspots? How can we with telecommunication companies and technology companies lower the cost? As we address South Africa’s massive unemployment challenge and work to equip people with the skills they need, we have a responsibility as companies and communities in partnership with government, to ensure that all our people have digital-ready skills and internet access.

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