Connect with us

E-Business

The “App Economy” will Drive Innovation in Africa

Published

on

IBM-logo.jpg
Kindly share this post

The mobile economy has finally arrived in Africa. Anyone who doubts should simply take a look around them. The millennial generation have become the leading purveyors of the emerging “App Economy”.

They are driving the boom in mobile services and reinventing the way businesses engage with their internal and external audiences and stakeholders.

To compete in this new “app economy,” telcos will need to invest in gaining market share” through mobile applications, services, advertising and the customer data that powers them.Mobile point of sale is also set to take off in the enterprise.

By the end of 2015, nearly 50% of enterprises with 2,500 or more employees will have some variation of a mobile point of sale (mPoS) deployment.

More than 80 percent of market-leading organisations[M1]  globally already recognise that mobile is fundamentally changing the way they do business.By providing apps and services that directly support the devices and connectivity of their core businesses, Africa’s telcos can improve customer satisfaction, decrease the cost of customer service, andgenerate sizable efficiency dividends to their customer retention and employee productivity.

The mobile ecosystem is therefore poised to create new economies driven by a new set of rules. Not one African nation has escaped the movement to mobile.

The dynamics of mobile growth on the continent will continue to provide good study material for savants of global telecommunications, especially when you look at how mobile has helped to transform the national gross domestic picture of nations and the personal economies of citizens at the bottom of the pyramid.

Take a look at Nigeria, a nation of about 170 million people. Nigeria’s mobile uptake has been one of the fastest in the emerging market over the last 12 years, growing from just under 500,000 lines in 2001 to its current 120 million lines.

In the Indian Island nation of Mauritius (population 1.3 million), the impact of mobile has been no less significant. Rated as one of the easiest countries to do business in in Africa, Mauritius has clearly benefitted from the adoption of new technologies like mobile and bio-technology in its agriculture sector.

It should therefore come as no surprise that Africa’s cellular network operators have been able to benefit from rapid growth in mobile subscriptions.

But traditional telco business models rely on high demand for voice and messaging services, which still comprise over 90 percent [A2] of mobile revenues in many markets in the region.

Analysts estimate that data will make up almost 27 percent of telco service revenues in Africa by 2018[M3] .

However, as the adoption of smart devices mobile data grows, telcos face increasing competition from over-the-top (OTT) providers offering free apps for messaging and VoIP calls.

The telco industry can benefit significantly from embracing this mobile disruption.In the African markets where 80 percent of consumers have no bank accounts,[M4] for example, telcos have already disrupted financial services providers with mobile money services.

With their knowledge and control over mobile networks and infrastructure, telcos also occupy a prime position to facilitate the mobile transformations of other industries; from retailers adopting enterprise mobile solutions to manage back-end logistics, to governments seeking to offer the same ease of use and convenience that citizens already expect from the private sector.

For example, in Ghana, Surfline Communicationsis using an IBM cloud solution to support critical back-end processes.

This IBM technology is helping Surfline not only to focus on mobile innovations for its own customers, but also support the infrastructural and implementation needs of Ghana’s businesses and government agencies as they start to invest more heavily in mobile services.

Adopting a mobile mindset
For most Africans, mobile devices are the primary technology platform. African telcoswould do well to consider the frictions experienced by prepaid customers, who account for 9 in every 10 Africans with a mobile device[M5] .

Prepaid customers with medium to high spending –particularly those using smart devices – typically want flexibility in their service consumption.

However, these same customers face the inconvenience of frequentlytopping up their accounts using vouchers, a legacy procedure that has not changed in the past 15 years.

This can be transformed with asimple smartphone app which automatically tops-up a customer’s prepaid account from their mobile wallet, when it hits a certain threshold. It would save telcos the significant margins that typically go to retailer-middlemen selling prepaid credits; and create a new source of revenue for banks enabling direct access to bank accounts to top-up. 

Bharti Airtel, a leading Indian telco, offers customers an award-winning app built with IBM technology which lets them manage multiple services (and even add new ones).

For Africa’s phone companies, the capacity to act local and think in global terms would be crucial test of their market relevance.

As other parts of the world continue to pivot to mobile, the telcos in Africa have a valuable blank slate on which to develop new products and services (and even new business models, based on open software design and collaboration), with relevance to a range of other industries in the region and around the world.

These telcos have a natural advantage to take the lead in mobile services innovation, thanks to their history of control over the device and the network.

Rui Serra is IBM Territory Manager – Central Africa (Angola, Indian Ocean Islands & SADC Region).


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Business

Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking more robust ways to protect their digital assets. A recent global study conducted by Kaspersky reveals a growing shift toward proactive security strategies, particularly the adoption of Secure by Design development and Cyber Immunity – an innovative approach that embeds resilience directly into system architecture.

The study highlights that 90% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region are familiar with Secure by Design development. This methodology integrates security into the very fabric of a system from its inception, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Such an approach is already employed in high-stakes industries like aerospace, where security cannot be bolted on later – it must be intrinsic. Despite its advantages, however, adoption has been slow due to challenges related to standardisation and cost.

Cyber Immunity is the next frontier in cybersecurity

Building on Secure by Design principles, Cyber Immunity takes cybersecurity a step further by creating systems that inherently resist attacks without the need for constant patching or additional security layers. The study reveals that most experts are familiar with Cyber Immunity but interpret it differently.

When asked what they associate with the term, 64% of respondents in the META region linked it to Secure by Design systems that remain resilient under attack, while 56% viewed it as a combination of technology and policy measures that block cybercriminal access. Another 48% connected it to highly skilled cybersecurity teams, indicating that while awareness is high, a unified understanding is still developing.

The growing demand for proactive security

One of the most striking findings is the optimism surrounding inherently secure systems. Over half of respondents in the META region (63%) believe it is already possible or definitely achievable to design systems capable of withstanding cyberattacks without relying on additional security solutions.

Another 32% think it might be possible, reflecting openness to this idea despite some uncertainty. This shift in mindset aligns with a broader industry trend: traditional reactive security measures are no longer sufficient.

With AI-powered threats and increasingly sophisticated attacks, organisations need solutions that do more than just detect breaches—they must prevent them by design.

Integrating Cyber Immunity into security strategies

The study emphasises that resilience, expertise, and flexibility will define the next generation of cybersecurity. While Secure by Design provides the methodology, Cyber Immunity represents the ultimate goal—systems so robust that they minimise reliance on external defences.

“For companies looking ahead, Cyber Immunity offers more than just protection — it brings clear business benefits. When systems are built to be secure from the ground up, there’s less need for constant updates, patches, and extra security tools. That means fewer costs, less strain on IT teams, and stronger, more reliable protection over time,” said Dmitry Lukiyan, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit.

Most importantly in today’s threat landscape, Cyber Immunity offers robust protection against next-generation challenges — including AI-driven attacks capable of outmaneuvering traditional security measures.

When security becomes an intrinsic property of system architecture rather than an external addition, businesses gain more than just protection—they secure a competitive market advantage.

This proactive approach future-proofs critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to operate confidently even as threats evolve. It transforms cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic differentiator that accelerates digital transformation while mitigating risk.

As the cybersecurity environment becomes more complex, Cyber Immunity is emerging as a vital strategy. Organisations that adopt it now will not only enhance their protection but also position themselves ahead of the curve in an increasingly volatile digital world.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga

The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.

To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.

Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.

Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”

He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”

Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.

As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.

Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Firm Identifies Global Scam Activity Linked to the Release of Avatar 3

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The premiere of Avatar 3 has taken place in several countries and has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in online interest. Amid the heightened attention surrounding the release, Kaspersky experts identified an increase in cyber-scam campaigns that exploit the movie’s launch and users’ desire to watch it online. The fraudulent websites target users across multiple regions, indicating attempts by attackers to reach a global audience.

The scam operates as follows: cybercriminals create suspicious websites that offer online access to the Avatar 3 movie. Attackers place particular emphasis on localisation, publishing the sites in multiple languages to attract users from different countries. However, the translations are often poorly executed and contain grammatical errors and inconsistencies, which may serve as indicators of fraudulent activity.

When users attempt to start the video, they are presented with a fake media player and prompted to register in order to obtain “full” or “unlimited” access to the film. As part of the registration process, users are asked to provide personal information, including an email address and mobile phone number.

At later stages, scammers may request additional data, including payment details, under the guise of activating a “free trial.” This creates risks of credential compromise, particularly if users reuse passwords across multiple services, and may also lead to financial losses.

“Cybercriminals consistently exploit major movie premieres to capture users’ attention and increase the effectiveness of their schemes. We advise accessing films only through official platforms and exercising caution when encountering websites that request personal or payment information. It is also important to use reliable security solutions to protect all devices, including mobiles,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending