12 ways mobile phones changed Africa forever

It is estimated that more than half of the sub-Saharan Africa’s adult population is now connected to a mobile phone.

Published: 11.10.2015
emmanuel tosin



Apart from easing communication, technology has indeed revolutionized the entire African continent. The wide use of mobile phones has boosted the economic output of individuals across the continent and generally improved the standard of living and awareness amongst the populace.

It is estimated that more than half of the sub-Saharan Africa’s adult population is now connected to a mobile phone.

A man holds up his mobile phone showing a M-Pesa mobile money transaction page for the photographer at an open air market in Kibera in Kenya's capital Nairobi December 31, 2014. REUTERS/Noor Khamis play
A man holds up his mobile phone showing a M-Pesa mobile money transaction page for the photographer at an open air market in Kibera in Kenya's capital Nairobi December 31, 2014. REUTERS/Noor Khamis


Mobile phones have changed the way companies, government agencies and other institutions deal with customers and services.

Here are 12 ways in which mobile phones have changed Africa:

Money transfer: In 2007, Safaricom, the largest telecom company in Kenya, and Vodacom in Tanzania launched a mobile-phone based money transfer service called M-Pesa.

In Kenya right now, the service already has more than 20 million users, with transactions going up to about 30% of the country’s GDP. Mobile money transfers have now made transfer of funds less confined within borders.

Banking: Mobile phones have given millions of Africans the ability to move on from the traditional brick-and-mortar banking system to online banking. Now users can deposit, transfer and even pay for services from their mobile phones.

Communication: Africa has moved on from hand-written letters and landlines to mobile phones which over greater reach and practicality. Mobile phones have made the continent much more connected.

A Zimbabwean man speaks on his phone outside a branch of mobile service provider Econet Wireless in central Harare, June 6, 2014. EUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo play
A Zimbabwean man speaks on his phone outside a branch of mobile service provider Econet Wireless in central Harare, June 6, 2014. EUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo


Health Care: Tech startups and other tech companies have made it easier for patients and doctors to connect via various mobile phone solutions. In Nigeria, genuine/fake drugs and foodstuffs can be verified on the NAFDAC database via mobile phones.

Agriculture: There are already mobile apps that can be used to share weather information, market prices and other important information used in the entire agricultural process. read more http://mytechcolony..com.ng/

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Insightful