The coronavirus currently disrupting activities around the world will hamper the growth of the African smartphone markets according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).
According to the technology and consulting services giants, the African mobile phone market made some huge strides in the 4th quarter of 2019, growing by 3.8% on a year on year basis.
They explained that the growth last year was ignited by a number of year-end promotions as well as Cyber Mondays and Black Friday promotions. Also pointing out that the continued market demand for affordable, entry-level phones helped boost the growth of smartphone shipments on the continent.
IDC have however warned that the impressive feats of last year is not likely to be repeated this year due to the devastating effects of the pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19).
The deadly coronavirus which was first reported in the Hubei Province has now spread across the world with the number of infected individuals rising to as high as 139,064 confirmed cases and about 5116 deaths already recorded.
Africa alone has recorded about 99 cases at the time of filing this report. Egypt has shouldered most of the cases with about 55 confirmed cases.
On Wednesday, the 11th of March, the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic. The virus is affecting economies globally.
