Over a decade ago Nigeria had 100,000 phone lines, mostly landlines run by Nitel telecoms a state owned telecoms company. Forward to today, Nigeria has about 100 million mobile phone lines and still counting. This makes it Africa’s biggest telecoms market, according to statistics by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

The story is similar across Africa and this is a phenomenal trend considering Africa was behind technologically for years. What is even more peculiar is that some people who never used pcs to access the internet are already using mobiles to do so. Can we say this has been a technological leap by a continent that has largely lagged behind. How can Africa use this advantage to fuel economical growth?

Giants like Google and microsoft are getting in on the act, planning to sell millions of mobile phones to people in Africa. It is estimated that by 2016 there will be a billion mobile phones on the continent.

In 2007, President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, said:

“In 10 short years, what was once an object of luxury and privilege, the mobile phone, has become a basic necessity in Africa.”

This video shows how mobile phones have transformed life in Africahttp://www.myafricanow.com/mobile-phones-tablets-changing-way-live-africa/

Great developement

Thanks for the insightful post! This looks really encouraging for the continent. The mobile platform has given birth to various unique and creative initiatives aimed at improving/addressing some major challenges. I came across the following initiatives undertaken as start-ups, which caught my attention:-

M-Farm

It's a collaborative platform for farmers which works at 3 levels:-

-Informing farmers about price of their produce
-Connecting farmers and buyers
-Provide farming insights and assistance towards optimum production

The App has a presence over mobile (SMS) as well as web interfaces.

SnapScan

SnapScan is a startup based in South Africa. It offers a mobile payment service aimed at simplifying payments.

The application allows the users to:-


-Make quick and convenient payments using only your phone
-Buy at shops and markets without handing over your card
-Pay with your debit or credit card (no extra wallet)
-See a list of previous transactions

Locate great merchants close to you (across South Africa)

Gifted Mom


An initiative born in Cameroon, Africa. It is a knowledge sharing platform targeted at women for pre and Antenatal care. The initiative offers:-

-Notifications/Guidelines for antenatal care (SMS/App)
-Vaccination tracker program for children (SMS/App)
-Teen health/sex education (SMS/App)
-Mobilizing community and health workers (SMS/App)
-App based personalized journal
-Quick tips from doctors


References

https://www./unique-mobile-based-initiatives-africa-pranay-panday
http://www.zealousys.com/blog/m-commerce-africa-beyond-selling/