Africa has seen tremendous growth in mobile phone subscribers, reaching over 280 million in 2008, a 95% increase from 2005. Mobile phones are being used to solve everyday problems through African innovation, combining local ingenuity with technology to improve healthcare, education, transportation, finance and more. Examples include mobile payments, phone-based reporting of issues, wind-powered cell towers, and mobile access to agricultural markets information.

1. big surprises,
small package
erik hersman

2. white
solving everyday problems BGSJDBO
with African ingenuity where africa and technology collide

3. 280,700,000
30%

5. Subscribers in Africa (millions)
Africa Subscriber Growth

7. 2005

8. 2008

9. 95%
prepaid

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbsurf/1466526458

12. healthcare
governance
education
infotainment
micro-commerce
transport finance

13. examples

16. mobile payment

18. mobile phone reporting

20. wind powered
cell towers

21. agricultural markets

22. agricultural markets

23. use

24. restricted mobility
kiwanja.net

27. auto anti-theft device

28. censorship

29. mobile mobility
Jan Chipchase

31. Jan Chipchase

32. literacy & linguistics

33. the
default
device

35. if it works in
africa
it will work
anywhere

36. Thank You!
Erik Hersman
hash@whiteafrican.com