A new report on MobileCrunch suggests that demand for mobile internet access in Africa will rise between 40-50% by 2009.
“The poor state of fixed line infrastructure is creating the potential for the African mobile internet market to boom,” states Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Spiwe Chireka. “Mobile internet has emerged as the solution to the continent’s last mile connectivity.
Yet, the lack of reliable electricity, inadequate road networks that make access to remote areas difficult, the costs of internet-compatible handsets and pricing for access still put it out of reach for most Africans.
The report calls for more partnership formation among mobile providers and various technology and infrastructure groups. Might this be the opportunity for some creative capitalism?
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