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New GSMA Report Sees Rise in Mobile Broadband and Smartphone Adoption Across Middle East and North Africa
Mobile broadband networks will account for 61 per cent of mobile connections by 2020, up from 41 per cent today, across the diverse Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to a new GSMA report published today at the GSMA Mobile 360 Series – Middle East conference in Dubai. The new study, ‘The Mobile Economy – Middle East and North Africa 2016’, highlights that there are currently 339 million unique mobile subscribers (Q2 2016) across the region’s twenty five markets1, a figure expected to rise to 385 million by 20202. The number of smartphone connections3 has also more than doubled over the last three years to reach 263 million in Q2 2016, accounting for 42 per cent of total connections, and is forecast to reach 467 million by 2020. The availability of mobile broadband networks has increased smartphone adoption and is helping to bridge the digital divide and usher in innovative new mobile services.
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- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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USAID Launches Catalyst to Drive Cashless Payments in India
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Friday announced the launch of a new initiative “Catalyst: Inclusive Cashless Payment Partnership” (www.cashlesscatalyst.org).
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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What is Lost in a Digital Financial World — And How to Get it Back
As we work to extend financial services to the two billion financially excluded people around the world, we must rely on digital financial services. But vital as they are to financial inclusion, in the transformation to digital interfaces, valuable personal connections between financial service providers and customers are lost. Elisabeth Rhyne explores what exactly is lost, and how that loss can be mitigated or replaced.
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- Uncategorized
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Rwanda: Mastercard, GTBank launch digital payment partnership
MasterCard and Guaranty Trust Bank Rwanda Ltd (GTBank Rwanda) are introducing a suite of digital payment solutions, aimed at extending the demand for safe and convenient payment solutions.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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‘Her Hands Trembled’ When She Borrowed Her First $64; Now She’s Giving Advice to BRAC
BRAC, which has been gradually integrating mobile money into its microfinance operations since 2011, has introduced a number of new initiatives, including investing heavily in client protection, customer service and financial education, and developing mobile money use cases. Here, as part of FI2020 Week's spotlight on keeping clients first in a digital world, a long-time client gives her perspective on this evolution.
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- Uncategorized
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Financial Inclusion Week Starts Today – Here’s How You Can Participate
It's Financial Inclusion Week 2016 – a research and advocacy project that brings together nearly 40 organizations and stakeholders around the world to host events and share insights on advancing financial inclusion. This year, the conversations will focus on keeping clients first in a digital world, a theme which aims to bring clients to the forefront of the fintech discussion.
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- Uncategorized
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Report: Financial Inclusion Still a Challenge in Low-Income Communities in Africa
The report undertakes a comparative review of the financial systems and regulations in Africa relative to the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. It compares indicators of the financial environment (including credit metrics, risk evaluation and monetary policy), as well as regulation and supervision standards.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Why the World’s Smallholder Farmers are Going Hungry
Many of the world’s households most affected by hunger are smallholder farmers who are, ironically, critical to feeding the world as its population grows. These small farmers need to become more productive and less poor, which is possible only if they have the building block critical to growing businesses of every kind: better access to finance.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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