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Ethiopia to Issue Two Telecom Licenses, Minority Stake in Monopoly
Ethiopia’s telecoms industry is considered the big prize in a push to liberalize the country’s economy launched last year by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed because of its huge protected market serving a population of around 100 million.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Front Lines of the Digital Revolution: Reasons for Hope and Caution as India Rides the Fintech Boom
India is now the world's second biggest fintech hub, trailing only the U.S. Its digital payments market is set to grow to US $500 billion by 2020, with its overall digital economy predicted to reach 30% of the country’s GDP by 2025. According to Moin Qazi, this ongoing fintech revolution offers a preview of what global banking may look like a generation from now, delivering vast benefits to both providers and customers. But it isn't free of downsides – for both traditional financial institutions losing their market share to tech-based entrants, and for customers navigating new risks.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Speculating on the Future of Financial Inclusion: Predictions, Solutions (and Warnings) for the Next 20 Years
We live in extraordinary times: In the next 20 years, futuristic technologies like drones, driverless cars, virtual reality and robotics will transform communities and entire industries. Meanwhile, says MSC founder Graham Wright, breakthroughs in areas like artificial intelligence, big data and mobile connectivity will have a similar impact on financial inclusion. Wright makes some bold predictions, and highlights the trends and technologies that are likely to play important roles in the sector’s development.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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This startup lets users watch ads to get free mobile service
Instead of paying your cell phone bill in cash, Moolah Mobile lets you pay for your service as you use it, by putting ads on your home screen.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North America
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Report: Sub-Saharan Africa 2nd worst region in mobile gender gap
"Mobile access and use has grown dramatically in LMICs [low- and middle-income countries] in recent years, but not equally. A gender gap in both mobile ownership and mobile Internet use persists across these markets, and is significantly wider in certain regions, particularly South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa," the report says.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Power of Messaging: How WhatsApp is Becoming a Not-So-Secret Weapon Among Small Enterprises in Emerging Markets
Doing business in emerging markets requires significant and often remote communication – from managing inventory to keeping track of transactions and employees in the field. But though donor-funded digitization efforts often focus on building payments use cases, some of the most needed advancements are happening via existing communications channels like WhatsApp, says Strategic Impact Advisors VP Hamilton McNutt. He explores the innovative ways companies are using WhatsApp – and how messaging apps could better serve their needs.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
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Report: Mixed emotions in emerging economies on smartphones, social media
Most of these people say they personally benefit from the technology: more than nine in 10 say the devices have helped them stay in touch with loved ones, and nearly eight in 10 said they use them to get news and information about important issues.
- Categories
- Technology
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Viewpoint: How China’s e-commerce playbook can help emerging economies transform
Emerging markets, like China’s, have the advantage of a sizeable young population that is highly adaptable, if not already at home in the mobile digital era. Better yet, by learning from US tech leaders, emerging markets will have the best of both worlds
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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