Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Content in Africa: The Coming Storm?

Akbar Hussain, Sr. Legal Manager - Africa, Airtel Africa

The mobile phone (and the smart phone, in particular) is increasingly displacing other mediums as a way to channel content. Given the growth and importance of the telecommunications industry in Africa, and the relentless penetration of smart phone technology, it is therefore unsurprising that Africans are consuming, and creating, an increasing volume of content, of both African and international provenance, on their enabled phones. Smartphone spending in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase by 5.9% in 2014, while feature phones will decrease by 10.9% (International Data Corporation (IDC).