-
Investors Missing Africa’s Telecoms Boat
Despite phenomenal growth in the cellphone industry, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for just 1% of global telecoms investments. Of $220bn invested in telecoms in 2003, under $3bn was in Africa. The sector has high growth potential, as the majority of Africans still have no access to telecommunications. For investors who know how to assess the risks and rewards, the potential rewards are matched only by diamonds and other mineral resources, Marcelle says. ...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Minister Blames Banks over Poverty in Africa
The failure by commercial banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses in Africa is to blame for rampant poverty on the continent, a Cabinet minister said yesterday. Planning minister Anyang’ Nyong’o hit out at the banks for making return on investment difficult by charging high interest rates on loans. Oracle Business Intelligence The banks rarely touch African businesses and when they do they charge interest rates that make it impossible for ent...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Access 1513 Internet Prepaid Card Launched
In an effort to help Ghana ’leap-frog’ into the information society proper, Global Access Services Limited in collaboration with Netafrique Dot Com, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) have introduced an Internet prepaid card into the Ghanaian market. Called Access 1513 Internet prepaid card, the card can be used by anyone who has access to a computer with a dial up modem and a Ghana Telecom (GT) telephone line. The card comes with a username, a password and a GT digital telep...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
FG Urged to Review Private Sector-Led Development Concept
Lagos United Nations Ambassador, Economic Development, Africa and the Middle East, Alhaji Mahmoud Umoru has called on the federal government to review its concept of private sector-led economic development. He said for the concept to materialise in Nigeria, government must ensure that basic infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water and transportation were functional and affordable. Umoru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that al...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Kenyans use spirit of ubuntu to scoop top prize
A Kenyan social enterprise, Honeycare Africa, was named the top small- to-medium-sized business in Africa in Johannesburg last week. This is the first time in the history of the Africa SMME Awards that a non-South African company has been named the winner. According to Professor Nicholas Biekpe, head of the Africa Centre for Investment Analysis (ACIA) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School and host of the event, the emergence of Honeycare as the winner is indica...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Electronic Currency: Malawi
In mid-September, cell phone users on Malawi’s Telecom Networks (TNM) received a text message saying With TNM you can now recharge your friends mobile using TNM direct top up service. Just use the following command: *112*phone number*recharge pin*. Its that easy What does this mean? Well, TNM users, for the most part, are on a pay-as-you-go system--when you need more minutes, you buy scratch-off cards with a code to punch in for additional credit. TNM has also lo...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Mo Ibrahim: Revolutionising communications in Africa. His tool? The mobile phone
For a man who describes himself as a former Marxist, Mo Ibrahim has clearly made his peace with the forces of capitalism. The chairman of the fastest-growing mobile phone group in sub-Saharan African talks with relish of breaking down the Arab business world’s wariness towards his continent, of cellphones making the internet virtually redundant. Few inventions can boast as dramatic an impact on society as the mobile phone in Africa. Embraced there long before it became commonplac...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Drug Prices in Kenya Sickeningly Expensive
Kenyans pay up to 17 times the internationally-recommended prices for some branded medicines, and up to three times for their generic forms, reports Dagi Kimani COMPETITION AMONG KENYA’S 600-odd registered pharmacies as well as a vibrant drug manufacturing sector have failed to lower the cost of medicines in the country, says a Ministry of Health survey. According to the survey, Kenyans pay up to 17 times the internationally-recommended prices for some branded medici...
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
The Best of NextBillion in Your Inbox Each Week!
Subscribe to NB Notes for news, jobs & on-the-ground insights from the world of emerging markets business.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.