It is said that necessity leads to innovation. This has been clearly illustrated in Africa where innovation has been seen in almost all sectors including education, banking, energy and agriculture, etc. There are significant strides that are clearly seen in the continent’s technological advancement.
Embracing mobile technology
One of the notable features of African technology currently is the increased utilization of mobile technology.
This probably stems from limited resources that makes it cumbersome, and in some cases impossible, to install infrastructure that runs on conventional fixed-line telecoms. Additionally, electrification in Africa is nothing to write home about.
Cheap mobile phones have been utilized to offer numerous and essential mobile services in Africa. This is often through a platform of SMS by the over 35 mobile network providers operating on the continent.
In the year 2000, only 1% of the continent’s population owned mobile phones. Nonetheless, projections estimate that by the end of this year about 56% of the African people will have handsets. There are even estimates that put mobile phone penetration by the end of this year at 80%.
The growth in the mobile sector has encouraged various multinational corporations to make an attempt at reaching the African community through mobile phones.
Mobile Banking
Most of the phones being used in Africa do not have the fast 3G and 4G connections. Nonetheless, this has not stopped the continent from exploiting the connectivity resources available to the maximum.
Mobile trade and commerce are booming in almost all parts of the continent. Payments, using the mobile platform, has been provided by many mobile service providers.
Mobile payment services currently handle more than a quarter of the gross domestic product in some of the countries where they are used.
Besides all of the above, trade has been enhanced in various ways: Local market prices are, for instance, readily available to farmers. Payment of bills through mobile phones is also faster and more efficient.
Governments too can use the audit data trail left behind to monitor tax and revenue generation.
Internet connections have expanded
In Nigeria alone, more than 42% of the population has access to the internet. It is estimated to increase by at least 10% in the next three years. This is representative of the giant strides that the continent in general has made in connecting its population to the internet.
Various players have come in to improve connectivity in Africa. Angola’s Unitel is working to provide high-speed cellular broadband that alleviates the need for users to have the latest smartphones and tablets.
A 4Afrika initiative by Microsoft seeks to connect the rural population to broadband using TV white spaces.
Although, Africa’s development has been slow, nonetheless, it is a belief of many that as technology penetrates the continent; it will catch up with other continents in terms of development at a faster rate than before. Technology may, thus, be a key to most of Africa’s problems such as poverty, war and lack of education.
