Filmed at West and Central Africa, Dakar, Senegal June 2010.

Mobile Web users are typically prepared to make fewer clicks on a website than users accessing sites from a PC. Although a growing number of websites and Web-based applications offer support for small-form-factor mobile devices, many still do not. Websites not optimized for the smaller-screen formats will become a market barrier for their owners — much content and many sites will need to be reformatted/rebuilt.

Filmed at Digital Africa, Kampala, Uganda, 2010.

This unique start was then followed by a video address by Dr Hamadoun Toure, the ITU Secretary General who explained the recent growth and also the challenges faced by the African market.

Mobile subscription rates are increasing by up 42% per year in Africa. The African mobile market is one of the fastest growth rates in world, for example….Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, mobile adoption is growing by 50 to 70% per year.

Mobile prices are low and accessible is high, but high cost of broadband is a major bottleneck and broadband it was argued should be recognised as national right for all. Mr Toure added that the moment is now ripe to put together and seek the best way forward to drive African Communications.

The Vice President of Uganda likened the ICT revolution to when in the 1950’s when his family grew a lot of cotton. Other countries found it hard to grow and asked how to do it and Uganda became 3rd largest exporter. Similarly in ICT, he explained that training was needed, at all levels in Africa. Utilisation of mobiles needs to be increased and the industry needs to help to develop strong policy on ICT use to improve in Africa. “This can transform people from poverty to middle class with positive change.”

How can Africa develop?
He explained how e-Health schemes for malaria and disease means these issues can now be resolved without coming to Kampala which is great for Ugandans.

He explained that Africa was not yet ready for this big change now, as economies and governments are fragile, but they need to build strong policies to transform societies, as building a democracy takes time so policies are needed now.

Africa Needs To Now Produce
The Vice President highlighted the plight of Africa clearly by saying historically “Africa receives 99.9% of things but needs to turn this around and find out how to do and build capacity to produce”. Uganda consumes but now needs to produce especially in ICT.

Good food for thought, which highlights just how big the digital divide is in Africa and the work needed. This needs to be addressed by both strong policy and public and private partnerships in Africa. At ForgetMeNot Africa are both happy and proud our eTXT technology will help to empower Africans and in the words of Dr Hamadoun Toure, the ITU Secretary General, fullfilling the “national right” of each African to be part of the digital revolution.

- Increased opportunities for business and entrepreneurs

- Access to mobile banking through email

- Reduced vulnerability and isolation thanks to access to information and affordable communication

Access to email via mobile phones has even more benefits. Example include fleet management, emailing job applications, receiving crop price information and affordably communicating with people from around the world for the cost of a local SMS. With so much to gain, we hope the mobile phone will continue to rise in popularity so the benefits can keep more people across Africa connected.

Simu ya Solar, which also comes with a conventional charger, will be retailing at all Safaricom shops countrywide at a price of Shs2,999 (US$40).

Speaking during the launch of the phone, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Michael Joseph said the company has always been keen on embracing business processes and products that are environmentally-conscious.

“Solar power is definitely the way to go as it is cheap, green and renewable. This solar-charged phone will come in handy particularly in the rural parts without grid electricity and even urban areas, for those who are keen on saving on phone maintenance costs,” he said.

“Our subscribers will not have to take their phones to merchants for charging and wait all day for their handsets to charge in order to make calls. They can now talk all day and night without worrying about the level of charge and charging costs.”

Broadband access makes a variety of e-services, including education, available and can make a significant difference to schools who struggle with limited resources.

A single teacher could lecture to many classrooms across the continent, via the web. This would mean thousands, possibly millions of students could benefit from learning from specialist teachers. Students can also access high quality educational resources and share ideas with other students or professors at schools around the world.

Plans are in motion to connect schools in some African countries, enabling students to:

- Access to information from around the world

- Be provided with up to date learning resources

- Connect with international opportunities

- Learn independently or from a unique curriculum

Education is the great equaliser in the world, and bringing it online can give students the opportunity to become global citizens and competitive, productive contributors in the local job market.

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Zain Nigeria was founded as Econet Wireless Nigeria (EWN) in 2001, named after the South African holding company Econet Wireless International (EWI) which held a 5% stake and a contract to run the cellco. Following a takeover attempt by Vodacom of South Africa in 2003, a protracted boardroom dispute ensued, with EWI unwilling to relinquish its stake or its management control. Eventually in 2004 EWN was renamed Vee Networks and its brand name changed to Vodacom. Barely six weeks after taking over the cellco, Vodacom pulled out of its contract and walked away from Vee Networks, citing ‘irregularities’ in the payment of the brokerage fees. Management of the company was handed to Dr Gamaliel Onosode, of the Delta State Ministry of Finance, and services were rebranded again, this time under the V-Mobile banner. Celtel International, a division of Zain, purchased 65% of the company in May 2006. EWI has since surfaced to try and gain a court ruling to overturn the sale to Celtel, claiming its pre-emption rights were breached when its predominantly Nigerian partners decided to sell their shares in V-Mobile to Zain in 2006.

Source: TeleGeography

MTN Uganda, Grameen Foundation and Google Search, who recently launched a suite of mobile phone applications to provide instant information previously unavailable to Uganda’s remote communities were upbeat that the partnership would be successful.

Officials said the mobile phone-based information service is expected to greatly empower rural communities by providing access to vital data and advice on issues ranging from business, agriculture, health, environment, weather etc.

These new services in Uganda can be accessed by existing Village Phone Operators (VPOs) who extend services to people without mobile phones as well as by people who have their own phones. VPOs and other trusted intermediaries serve as a bridge between communities who lack access to essential information and the sources that can provide it.

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