Mobile Technology: An East African Perspective

In East Africa, Kenya is leading in terms of mobile usage standing at 67.2% mobile penetration rate. Close to 7 in every 10 Kenyans owns and uses a mobile phone on a daily basis. The peculiar calling habit of Kenyans was the subject of a joke by Michael Joseph, former CEO of one of the biggest telecoms in the region (Safaricom.)

The mobile penetration of Tanzania stands at 56%. Tanzania is also doing well when it comes to advancements in Mobile technology. It was one of the first countries in the region to have 4G internet. Countries lagging behind in this area include Rwanda and Uganda.

In Kenya, there are 26 million mobile subscribers as at 2013. The figure for Tanzania is 23 million subscribers while Uganda has 12 million mobile users. 

Because of the popularity of mobile phones in East Africa, Telecoms are registering few fixed lines as compared to the formative years. Fixed lines in Kenya as at 2013 do not exceed 400,000. This scenario is replicated across the region with Tanzania have less than 200,000 fixed line subscribers.

Phone Usage

Someone can own a phone yet he does not use it much. Research indicates that a good percentage of East Africans are constantly on the phone. As a matter of fact, mobile technology has totally revolutionized this part of the world. Kenya has the highest number of active mobile phone uses.

Who Sends More Text Messages?

Tanzanians send more text messages compared to Kenyans and Ugandans.

What do Kenyans Exactly Use Their Phones For?

Kenyans make the highest number of telephone calls in the region. Also, Kenyan telecoms recorded the highest number of mobile money transactions. Actually, the first mobile money transfer service in Africa(M-Pesa) is a brainchild of a Kenyan. This payment transfer model has been replicated across the world including in the Middle East.

Cheapest and Expensive Call Rates

It is expensive to make a phone call in Uganda. The average call tariff of Uganda is $ 0.08 per minute, in Kenya and Uganda, the average tariff is $0.04 per minute which represents half the cost of making a telephone call in Uganda.