Authors: Professor Nitin Agrawal, Chetan Singh Tomar
Abstract: This study examines the influence of economic factors on digital migration and IoT adoption in Zambia, using a mixed- methods approach based on secondary quantitative data and qualitative policy analysis. While national initiatives such as the Smart Zambia Programme have advanced foundational digital migration in areas like e-government and broadcasting, persistent economic constraints—including limited public investment, high infrastructure and device costs, unreliable electricity, and pronounced economic inequality—severely restrict the scale, equity, and sustainability of IoT deployment. The findings reveal a strong correlation between economic stability and digital progress, with budgetary fluctuations directly affecting ICT project implementation. IoT adoption remains predominantly at the pilot stage, hindered by high total cost of ownership and inadequate rural connectivity. The analysis further demonstrates how pre-existing socio-economic disparities exacerbate the digital divide, limiting access for low-income and rural populations. The paper concludes that realizing the transformative potential of digital migration and IoT in Zambia requires an integrated policy framework focused on sustained economic investment, targeted affordability measures, rural connectivity treated as public good and concurrent investments in human capital and digital literacy to ensure inclusive development.
