Global spending on public cloud services reached $45.7 billion last year and will experience a 23 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2018, according to analyst firm, International Data Corporation (IDC).
Some 86 per cent of the 2013 total came from cloud software, which encompasses both Software as a Service (SaaS) applications and Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings.
The remaining 14 per cent was generated by cloud infrastructure.
Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) application software accounted for $10.8 billion in public cloud revenue last year, followed by Customer Relationship Management (CRM) products with $8.1 billion, according to IDC.
Server came next with about $4 billion, and Collaboration Software which fetched $3.4 billion.
The remainder of the total was spread over security and other markets.
IDC ranked Amazon.com first in the PaaS market, with Salesforce.com and Microsoft tied in second place, followed by GXS and Google.
Amazon was also number one in the infrastructure category, followed by Rackspace, IBM, CenturyLink and Microsoft.
Geographically, the United States accounts for 68 per cent of the overall public cloud market, but this figure will fall to 59 per cent by 2018 as Western Europe’s take rises from 19 per cent to 23 per cent and growth picks up in emerging markets, IDC explained.
In another development, GOtv has taken its digital migration campaign, ‘Digilevelz Don Land’, to Abeokuta to launch its service in the rock city.
GOtv Nigeria Marketing Manager, Dare Kafar, said at the event that Digilevelz Don Land has a double meaning; first, communicating that GOtv, a digital terrestrial pay-TV, is now live in Abeokuta; and second, that it is time for Abeokuta residents to join the digital switch-over.
Kafar explained that John Okafor (also known as Mr Ibu) is GOtv’s ambassador in Nigeria and will be its face in awareness campaign on digital switch-over.
GOtv has introduced several initiatives to cater to subscribers in the wake of the analogue switch-off. These include a combo packaging which fits a GOtv decoder and antenna into a compact box, and the empowerment of vendors with tricycles branded ‘Ibu on Wheels’.
Said Kafar: “The expectation is that demand will rise when the analogue signals are switched-off, so GOtv has introduced a new packaging to allow our distributors stock higher quantities.
“The new combo box is compact and more space-efficient, but the price of the complete GOtv set remains unchanged. For N6,900 subscribers get a GOtv decoder, including one month subscription to GOtv Plus and the GOtenna (outside antenna).
“Accessibility of decoders will also play a major role in the digital migration process. Ibu on Wheels will enable GOtv vendors take GOtv decoders to city outskirts.”
Using the latest DVB-T2 technology, GOtv delivers digital quality sound and a crystal clear picture, enhancing viewing.
It offers two bouquets: GOtv Plus, which has 41 channels and costs N1,500 monthly; and GOtv, which has 28 local and international channels accessible at N1,000 monthly.
Subscribers in Abeokuta have access to channels containing news, children’s programming, documentaries, series and movies for a variety of different tastes and family viewing.
