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Digital Financial Services Policy Aims to Power Digitisation Trend in Ghana
Barely 15 years ago, financial services in Ghana were the preserve of banks and other institutions licensed by the central bank.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Missed Calls = Missed Opportunities: How Starlogik is Converting a Mobile Billing Loophole into an Inclusive Innovation
The mobile telephony industry has done a remarkable job reaching poorer people in developing countries. But as Ignacio Mas at the Digital Frontiers Institute points out, this success has been shaped by customer ingenuity too – for instance, through the common practice of reallocating call charges by requesting call-backs via missed calls. He explores how Starlogik has formalized this billing loophole to create a mutually beneficial new feature.
- Categories
- Technology
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Roadmap for the Mobile Industry
COVID-19 has significant impact on SSA, particularly on its informal sector. The mobile industry has never been more relevant and holds the potential to be transformative in its social impact. The industry was on track for growth and well placed as a driver of youth employment in SSA. Whilst by no means unaffected, there are reasons to believe that the industry will continue to be a driver of youth employment on the sub-continent. The doom and gloom of COVID-19 does not have to be all-encompassing and we must look towards the future and harness the opportunities it may hold.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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What Is Celo and Could It Succeed Where Libra Won’t?
Celo promises to be a stablecoin to rival Libra. While unlikely to be regarded with the same distrust as Facebook’s much-maligned digital currency, Celo will still have its share of challenges relating to regulation and scale.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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An Unlikely Mobile Money Success Story: How Somalia’s Civil War Laid the Foundation for a Cashless Society
Somalia has been ravaged by civil war, and the repercussions of the conflict continue to this day. Yet out of this violence and economic turmoil, a thriving mobile money ecosystem has emerged. According to Ahmed Muhamud Yuusuf at Hormuud Telecoms, the country has become the world’s first truly cashless economy. He explores the many positive impacts this accomplishment has had.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Mobile Money Helps Displaced Congolese Survive Amid Coronavirus Threat
Vital help now comes by mobile phone and hence reduces the transmission risks linked with physical interactions.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Mobile Money Providers Score a Major Win – But Are They at Risk of Losing it All?
According to the GSMA’s recently launched 2019 State of the Industry report, mobile money achieved some major milestones last year: There are now more than 1 billion accounts, and for the first time, the majority of transaction values are digital. But according to Arunjay Katakam, mobile money providers will soon face a new challenge that could upend their industry, as internet-based "over-the-top" payments providers are poised to transform the competitive landscape.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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AWS partners with Kenya’s Safaricom on cloud, consulting services
Amazon Web Services has entered a partnership with Safaricom — Kenya’s largest telco, ISP and mobile payment provider — in a collaboration that could spell competition between American cloud providers in Africa.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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