Things have changed with the means big business deals with Africa. Formerly a destination for CSR-related tasks like putting trees and building schools, the continent is currently very much the investment destination of choice, particularly for US technology giants.

It’s been quite a turn around. Nigeria was gyrating back into dictatorship, when, for instance, Microsoft was founded in 1975 and Portugal had African colonies in Angola and Mozambique. Now, cellular- Africa boasts seven of the world’s 11 fastest growing markets, and the likes of Facebook, Google and Microsoft are scrambling for a section of it.

Microsoft itself has directed this charge, establishing its US$75 million 4Afrika initiative in a bid. From its more than 20 offices across Africa, the firm has run several initiatives directed at ensuring it creates a marketplace for itself.

This “prevalent accessibility to connectivity” is the crucial problem in regards to Africa, and one US technology giants are focusing firmly on.

Several initiatives are underway to accelerate the increase of connectivity in Africa. Project Link has been started by Google, in a play to bring Africans quicker, more dependable web. The firm will do the same in Ghana, and has rolled out a metro fibre system in Kampala, Uganda.

The network offers last mile Wifi access, which MNOs and ISPs can leverage.

In South Africa we participated in a TV have invested in solar plants in addition to white gaps job. Africans are coming online and as the price of apparatus and information come down more Africans will have the ability to profit from what the web is offering.

It’s established commercial networks with local businesses in Kenya and Ghana, South Africa.

Companies that are support
Getting individuals online is just part of the strategy.

Within the SME sector there are chances for innovators and young entrepreneurs to grow job opportunities and wealth development for the continent she said.

In doing thus, there are chances to form new online business models, enabling more efficient supply chains efficiently creating larger, more inclusive marketplaces with critical mass and powered by technology. Eventually, there are chances for regional integration, that’ll break structural constraints that are historic and stimulate cross border commerce and greater amounts of regional investment.