Technology moves at a rapid pace, and every year we see new and improved technologies that dominate. Here are some of the technology trends that we can expect more of in 2023.

5G to overtake 4G

5G-enabled devices will be more widely available on mid- and entry-level devices. Statista Research says 5G-enabled smartphone devices will rapidly gain market share in 2023, overtaking 4G and reaching 69% of global shipments. In Africa, and South Africa specifically, we’re working on infrastructure and 4G still dominates. However, 5G is gradually growing, thanks to Vodacom investing R11 billion in technology in 2022.

Web3 or Web 3.0?

You may have seen these terms and thought they’re the same thing, but they’re not. Web3 is blockchain-based and incorporates cryptocurrencies, NFTs, etc., whereas Web 3.0 refers to a web that lets a user share their data across apps and communities. Essentially, Web3 focuses more on security and control over data, and Web 3.0 is more about efficiency and how you reuse your data across the web. Either way, we can expect a web that lets users take ownership of their digital assets of any kind.

Sustainability

In recent years, you’ll have noticed the small things consumer brands have done in their efforts to go green. They may have removed a plug from a smartphone box or much reduced the size of the box itself. Such changes, and more, will be a key trend across many industries. Research house Gartner says environmental sustainability has become a top priority for the first time. Sustainability appears as a competitive differentiator for CEOs in 2022 and 2023 – survey respondents rated it on the same level as brand trust. 

Metaverse

Despite the negativity around Meta laying off 13% of its workforce, which directly affects its research lab, the metaverse is entering a crucial period in its history as numerous tech companies create extended reality (XR) hardware. Deloitte says XR is entering a rapid development stage like the smartphone did before it saw explosive growth. XR is a collective term that includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Companies building ecosystems in the space include Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Huawei, Tencent and ByteDance.

Super Apps

The rise of super apps started in China with WeChat and AliPay, which is regarded as an “app for everything”. Using a single login you can shop, buy digital goods and services, do banking, pay utility bills, airtime, etc. This mobile-first experience will cater to GenZ and digital natives. And while Vodacom was ahead of the curve and launched its VodaPay super app in 2021, Gartner says it will be a big tech trend in 2023, and by 2027, more than 50% of the global population will be daily active users of multiple super apps.

Fibre to your home

Here’s a handy article on getting started with fibre that will give you guidelines on how fast your connection should be. Uncapped fibre gives you the option to stream, surf and listen to music to your heart's content, without ever worrying about running out of data.

Next, check out fibre coverage in your area, and brush up on Vodacom’s latest fibre offers.