Mobile Telecommunications in Africa: Issues for Business, Government & Society

Abstract

Mobile telecommunications has been a considerable success with consumers, yet markets are oligopolies designed by governments and by industry, with many flaws, including limited ability to regulate prices, quality of service and coverage. Markets have been partially opened to competition, with significant investment in networks, but sometimes compromised by corruption. Mobile telephony has contributed to economic growth and largely closed one digital divide. Governments appeared to have adopted a global best practice of allowing market entry, with independent regulators. Yet some success can be found where such conditions do not exist, suggesting the existence of alternative models, in post-conflict and small island developing states, seeming supported by loans from manufacturers. The deployment of mobile broadband presents significant challenges, in both investment and creation of business models that are affordable for consumers.