Let me start this by asking you, did you know telecommunications from Middle East and Africa contributes 8% to the global telecommunications activities?
Some experts would say (and they might be right) the contribution largely came from Data. But I would say the Data was largely brought to life with our Mobile Devices. I have had the opportunity to be an employee of a digital house that has Mobile at the core of all innovation and services (someday I would share more). I can then tell you for free the Mobile world is delivering exceptional numbers in terms of economic value and immense advantage to nations.
Lets backtrack a little, bring it home and look at some interesting numbers. Ernest Nti Acheampong, a researcher at African Technology Policy Studies Network in Nairobi, Kenya believed there were 348 million unique mobile subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of 2014. The question you would then ask is what are people doing on their devices.
Looking at this Chart I see how the “Sharp guys” ( ok ok lets call them The Innovators) have recognized opportunities therein. The bank in Nigeria with the Orange identity (yeah those guys who we shall not name) have clearly understood the Banking transactions requirements/needs that can be carried on the Mobile phone. No I am not talking about the Internet enabled platforms all the banks seems to be pushing.
The Orange guys understand the Macros in this environment and enabled the very simple banking transaction that doesn’t require the Internet. The simple route of using USSD to open an account, buy airtime, to transfer funds within accounts within their bank and others, check account balance, make enquires, bill payments etc… is in my opinion an innovative Mobile opportunity harnessed. I can say this because they have made my banking life simple. (No I am not an ambassador and No I wasn’t paid to do this).
In Kenya the everyday money transactions has been enabled via Mobile and named M-PESA. This product or solution as I would like to call it has become a global case study for emerging markets. M-PESA aligned with existing social practices that were prevalent in the country, such as remittances and savings groups. In the words of one researcher, it helped people to do what they were doing before the technology was introduced.
Aside banking, the opportunities that the Mobile Device opens up abound. Let me show you something an expert (one of the Wisemen I promised to introduce) I follow, Tomi Ahonen, shared.
As at 2014 he said everything would be enabled via the mobile and I mean EVERYTHING!
Many Businessmen paid attention and have created (still creating) organizations out of the opportunities he highlighted. I would continue to share the Mobile solutions existing within the areas (and some outside) Tomi has highlighted.
Lets talk next week.
