Mobile phone technology has transformed East Africa in leaps
and bounds. Sectors that have been positively affected include Agriculture,
trade, health, financial services, government, education and ICT sector. The development landscape of East Africa is
slowly being transformed by mobile phones. New sectors of the economy that were
underperforming have been given a new lease of life. What is needed at the
present moment is a radical increase in these innovations so as to achieve more
economic and social developments.
Innovative Mobile Phone Solutions Are Driving Entrepreneurship
Over the last few years, many startups have arisen in East
Africa due to the need to enable the facilitation of new mobile technologies. One
of such firms is Tangazo letu that
facilitates Lipa na M-Pesa that is
an initiative of leading Kenyan mobile phone company (Safaricom), in an effort
to facilitate mobile commerce.
Job Creation
The mobile phone sector has employed many people directly
and indirectly. There are professionals who have been employed directly by the
leading networks for the purpose of facilitating day to day operation of such
companies. Such professionals include technicians, accountants, programmers,
drivers and managers among others. Also, indirect employment is the case in
this sector. There are those who been employed by agencies that are in charge of
facilitating mobile money services of mobile service providers.
Changing lives
Mobile phone technology has changed many lives in East
Africa. It has facilitated vital communications that has ended up saving lives.
Mobile money transfer services have saved many East Africans the inconvenience
of having to deal with physical money.
People who are overseas can be able to send money to their
relatives purely because of mobile money. Therefore, those who have been lucky
to find employment in US, UK and other developed countries can be able to
support their relatives on a day to day basis due to this technological development.
Ready access to information
With a mobile phone that is connected to the internet,
different kinds of information can be accessed with the click of a button. The fact
that this technology avails useful information to millions of East Africans on
a daily basis indicates its transformational nature in this region of the
world. People need relevant facts so that they can be able to make day to day decisions
in the best manner possible.
Agricultural Impacts
The agricultural sector has benefited in a number of ways
from mobile technology. Kilimo Salama program that is powered by a mobile
payment gateway in Kenya has enabled farmers to subscribe to crop insurance.
Trade Facilitation
Mobile payment systems have facilitated trade in a number of
ways. They have accelerated the pace of mobile commerce in East Africa because
people can easily buy and sell from their mobile phones. On the other hand,
merchants can receive cash from buyers in a safe manner.
No comments:
Post a Comment