An assessment of the Internet of Things (IoT) adoption readiness of Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

A new and fast emerging shift in networking and communications is the Internet of Things. This new connectivity paradigm (according to industry and academic analysts) is expected to fully mature by the year 2020. A number of industry giants have already created platforms both for production and deployment of devices, processes and services aimed at maximizing the opportunities accruable from this new development. The developing economies of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have a unique opportunity to join in the Internet of Things race at the developmental stage. Their ability to maximize the benefits of this early participation in a novel technological trend will, however, be determined by their level of preparedness both technologically and policy wise. A measure of the readiness of Sub-Saharan African states for the adoption of the IoTs becomes of imperative importance. We present in this study, a preliminary assessment of the preparedness of SSA economies for the adoption of the IoTs as a background for a more detailed work on a proposed index (@-IoT Index) for measuring in quantitative terms the preparedness level of States for IoT adoption.