Sebastiana Etzo and Guy Collender
Only superlatives seem appropriate to describe the mobile phone 'revolution' – its impact and its potential – in Africa. Mobile phones are almost always the cheapest and quickest way to communicate, particularly when fixed-line phones and broadband internet are underdeveloped and dependent upon expensive infrastructure. The continent is home to 350 million mobile phone subscribers, and their numbers are growing faster than anywhere else in the world. The ubiquity of mobiles is matched only by the ingenuity of their users. From shantytowns to remote villages, mobile phones are being used to transfer money, monitor elections, and deliver public health messages. A large informal economy has also emerged to support the mobile sector, with people selling airtime, charging and fixing mobiles, and renting them out. Africa is truly a crucible for mobile phone innovation and entrepreneurship. Unsurprisingly, the rapid adoption of mobile phone technology by Africans and its dramatic benefits have frequently been described in unrestrained terms as ‘staggering’, a ‘remarkable phenomenon’, and a ‘revolution’. This transformation is all the more exceptional because it was largely unanticipated by the business or research communities.
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The Economist magazine has termed Kenya’s mobile phone industry as a world leader in innovation. In a cover article published mid April, The Economist placed Kenya’s pioneering mobile phone money transfer service among the cream of innovations from emerging economies that are signifying an unfolding shift in global economic power. Kenya’s mobile phone industry is not only turning into a trailblazer in innovating new products, but is also very competitive and market driven. Having spent the last six weeks in “the capital of the free market” as the US is often reffered to, I realise that Kenyans may have grossly under-appreciated the relatively low price that they have to pay for connection to what I can now confidently describe as world-class mobile phone network service.
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By Brice Tiku
An online forum for the exchange of progressive views, opinions and civil commentary on the workings of the Cameroon state, and strategies for improving the welfare and prosperity of its citizens has been launched. The Forum was launched by the Executive Coordinator of The Cameroon National Patriotic Youth Front (CNPYF), Dr Ernest L. Molua. Headquartered in Buea, the CNPYF is a community of young Cameroonians committed to standing together, shoulder to shoulder, to protect the Republic of Cameroon and its institutions. According to the Coordinator, the mission of the CNPYF includes educating citizens on the critical issues driving governmental policy; promoting the virtues of good governance; and empowering grassroots leaders and activists in taking local and national action to promote economic development. Dr Molua who is also the Executive Director for the Centre for Independent Development Research [CIDR], a Buea based think-tank, revealed that CNPYF will collaborate with the CIDR in its community programmes.
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By Sirri Alette Ngwa
MTN Eazi Recharge is for customers who have registered for the service. They can use their cell phone to securely and directly purchase airtime from MTN using a VISA or MasterCard accredited bank credit card. Customers do not need to go into their bank to register. Funds are directly debited from the customer’s credit card account to purchase MTN Pay As You Go airtime which will then be deposited directly into either the customer’s own cell phone account, or into a nominated beneficiary’s cell phone account. While this service is offered to MTN customers free of charge, normal transactional bank charges as determined by the respective banks may still apply. MTN Cameroon has attained the symbolic level of 4 million subscribers in June 2009, a subscription which undeniably ranks MTNC as leader of the mobile telephony market with more than 63% market share in Cameroon.
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The MTN Group, the South Africa-based multinational telecommunications company, this week announced its partnership with the pioneering online publication, Africa – The Good News. The Africa - The Good News , published by SA the Good News, is an online publication striving to tell Africa’s stories of hope and opportunity from an African perspective. Positioned as a legacy project of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Africa - The Good News is a strategic sponsorship for MTN, the first and only African global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The partnership with Africa - The Good News was announced at the Highway Africa by Ms. Nozipho January-Bardill, MTN Group Executive: Corporate Affairs at the 13th edition of the Highway Africa conference for African journalists in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.
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