Tech hubs are springing up across Africa. In Rwanda, the government has worked to boost access to information and communication technology, in order to harness the information age for its 11 million people. Apart from Rwanda, there are centers in Nairobi and some are taking shape in Uganda and many other countries. For example, at Makerere University, students from the department of computer science and information technology develop applications and sell them in the Samsung and Google application stores. However, these apps are downloaded and used by people mostly outside of Africa. I have detailed a number of reasons why this is the case below and also suggested some possible solutions;
Smartphone penetration
According to bizcommunity.com, global smartphone adoption has reportedly surpassed 1 billion phones. And, in at least 30 countries, at least half of all mobile surfers use smartphones, with Japan topping the list with 82% penetration, followed by Switzerland and Kuwait with 80%. In Africa, however, Egypt tops the list with 37%, with two East African players like Tanzania and Kenya with 13% and 12% respectively in the top 5. Smartphone adaptation has been low so far, This is due to high costs. of these devices. Access to smartphones would make it easier for people to access online content, such as digital products and news, from the comfort of their homes. After this, it would be easier to turn these people into buyers and sellers.
However, this is starting to change as low-cost devices are hitting the market. For example, in Uganda, you can get a Techno smartphone for less than $ 50, and prices are expected to drop even further.
Digital divide
The digital divide actually refers to the lack of skills to use the powerful information and communication tools that someone may possess. For example, I could have a smartphone, but when I’m only using it for voice calls. If I can’t use it for texting or accessing the web because I don’t know how to do it, then that’s what’s known as the digital divide. This is a common scenario in Africa, where multiple people have access to very powerful tools, but lack the necessary skills to take full advantage of the potential of these tools. The main cause of this is high illiteracy rates, as many people still cannot read or write. Language is another big barrier here as well. Those whose reading skills are limited to their local languages are effectively excluded.
However, with the advent of mobile banking, telecom operators have invested massively in advertising to help people take advantage of these tools. They have also distributed free data packages to get people interested in using the web, as in the example of Airtel Uganda and MTN Uganda. I think this will go a long way towards tackling the digital divide, but more needs to be done.
Internet costs
South Africa is one of the most technologically advanced countries in Africa, yet two-thirds of its adults have never used the Internet, according to voanews.com. A recent study by the South African Network Society survey, a research organization that analyzes the social impact of new telecommunications networks and technologies in Africa, found that only 34% of South African adults use the Internet. That is about 12 million people. What is happening in South Africa is only a microcosm of what is happening in many parts of the continent. Reasons for the dire internet statistics in Africa include; expensive Internet access at home due to lack of infrastructure, high prices for mobile data, among others. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the viability of the digital market on the continent, because only a fraction of the people on the continent have access to the web.The only hope here is that the global internet giants Facebook and Google have included on its agenda to make Internet access a reality, and Google has already begun conducting experiments in Africa.
Local applications
According to Nicholas Rixon of Bizcommunity, “There is a need for local application developers to develop applications specifically for the African market that solve local problems and bring utility to the local market. The rise of mobile technology has bought a gold rush for the mobile companies looking to create the next best application for consumers and businesses. The market is invaded by international applications, many of which do not add value in the African context. Local consumers are looking for applications that help them in their daily activities to solve local problems and increase its effectiveness “This statement concludes, there is a need for Africans to develop applications that solve purely local African problems. This will help drive mass adaptation, just as m-pesa was able to do in Kenya, and as a result, many people who previously did not have access to banking services now have access to mobile banking.
Simpler money exchange platform
I firmly believe that nothing accelerated the growth of e-commerce in Europe and North America more than the emergence of PayPal. In Africa today, the story is still different. People in North Africa and the Middle East use an online payment system called cashu. In sub-Saharan Africa, many people still do not have banking services and there is no alternative option for conducting digital transactions. When you read developer forums from across the region, many of them complain that it is too difficult for them to profit from their efforts. A money exchange platform should be developed that is cheap enough and easier to use.