Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU and Vodafone Launch Initiative to Connect 3.4B Unconnected

financial services provider or national smartphone is unaffordable. Expanding
government can solve on their own – but device financing schemes for those
working together we can break through the with poor or no credit history; reducing
barriers.” With 4G networks now covering the amount of tax on 4G smartphone
82 percent of the population in Low- and imports and increasing local
Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), the manufacturing of devices within Africa
mobile usage gap is six times larger than are suggested as ways to address this
the mobile coverage gap. “Achieving the issue.
Broadband Commission Global Targets 2. Invest in the demand for 4G services –
United Nations agency International requires a multi-stakeholder approach,” 375 million young Africans are expected
Telecommunication Union (ITU) has commented Zhao. “I am pleased to co- to enter the labour market by 2030
partnered with Vodafone to launch an chair this newly established Working and will need the skills to excel in a
initiative to connect 3.4 billion people. An Group, which will also help address digital economy. The report suggests
internet connection is increasingly vital in the challenges posed by the COVID-19 increasing financing and support
the modern world to unlock opportunities. pandemic and ensure that we put smart for digital start-ups and that device
Faster connections can mean even greater devices in the hands of those who are left manufacturers could create more
opportunity, but any connection is better behind.” inclusive products.
than none. According to research by the The working group will set out to: 3. Provide targeted financing for
ITU last year, of the 3.7 billion people • produce original analysis and data on underserved demographics –
who are not connected to the internet, 3.4 the smartphone access gap; Programmes need to take account of,
billion live within the range of a mobile • quantify the social and economic and target, the large gender gap and
network. A major part of the reason is due impact of providing everyone with rural-urban gap that exist in respect
to a lack of smartphone ownership. A new smartphone access by 2030, including of device ownership in sub-Saharan
working group has been created under the moving users from 2G feature phones to Africa.
auspices of the ITU/UNESCO Broadband 4G smartphones; 4. Re-farm 2G spectrum – Repurposing
Commission for Sustainable Development • analyze initiatives or pilots designed to mobile spectrum currently used for 2G
that aims to identify policy, commercial increase smartphone access. devices would enable more people to
and circular-economy interventions to Other launch partners of the working use 4G.
increase smartphone access. The working group include the Alliance for Affordable “While Ghana and other countries have
group is co-chaired by Vodafone Group Internet, GSMA, the government of Ghana, made great strides in the development
CEO Nick Read and ITU Secretary-General Safaricom, Smart Africa, Vodacom Group, of mobile infrastructure and the usage of
Houlin Zhao. “Vodafone is honored to be and the World Wide Web Foundation. digital services such as mobile money,
part of this monumental global initiative A report titled Africa.Connected has been it is noticeable that 45 percent of people
with the UN, to improve the lives of published to coincide with the formation in West Africa are covered by mobile
billions of people through smartphone of the working group. The report highlights broadband networks but do not use the
access. As our societies become more that a multi-stakeholder approach internet,” explained Ursula Owusu-Ekuful,
digital, everyone should have the ability consisting of four key steps will be needed Ghana’s Minister for Communications
to find jobs, be able to get public services, to increase digital inclusion in a region and Digitalization. “Addressing the mobile
financial services and critical information where the mobile usage gap is the largest internet usage gap is vital for the long-
that are increasingly only available in the world: term economic development of my country
through the internet,” said Read. “This 1. Make 4G devices more accessible – and many others across the world and will
is such a complex challenge that no Nearly 2.5 billion people live in countries require new partnerships and focused
network operator, device manufacturer, where the cost of the cheapest available action from a range of organizations.”

Tanzania Partners Power Company TANESCO to Increase Broadband

Connectivity

Tanzania’s Ministry of Communication Daily News. Under the agreement, state- stretches 8,319km and connects 21
and Information Technology has signed owned Tanzania Telecommunication regional capitals, but the agreement is
a memorandum of understanding (MoU) Corporation will utilize TANESCO’s expected to increase the length of the
with Tanzania Electric Supply Company electricity infrastructure to roll out fiber- infrastructure by 4,450km and connect the
(TANESCO) to expand broadband optic broadband connectivity. At present, remaining ten regions.
connectivity across the country, reports the country’s national fiber-optic network
64 SEPTEMBER 2021