Preparing for
the Fourth
Industrial
Revolution
Mobile powering economic
growth and job creation
across West Africa
C
ryptoSavannah and the Blockchain
Association of Uganda are to host the
Africa Blockchain Conference 2019. Held
in Kampala on July 3 and 4, the event will
focus on preparing Africa for the Fourth
Industrial Revolution (4IR) and refers to the
ongoing technological revolution that is
fundamentally altering the way we live, work
and relate to one another.
It comprises a series of technologies
including Artificial Intelligence,
nanotechnology, Blockchain, drones,
Robotics and Big Data, with the conference
addressing what opportunities they present,
what threats they pose and what Africa must
do to leverage them for its development.
Although Africa has predominantly been a
consumer of previous industrial revolutions,
the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents
a unique opportunity. By harnessing
Africa’s large educated youth population,
and the ubiquity of knowledge as a result
of the Internet, unlike previous industrial
revolutions, Africa can become an active
participant and not just a consumer of 4IR.
The 2019 conference will gather 1,000
participants comprising industry and policy
leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors,
youth and academia. For more information
about the conference, including a list of the
speakers, visit africanblockchain.org
W
est Africa’s mobile ecosystem
generated more than US$50 billion
in economic value last year – equivalent
to 8.7% of the region’s GDP, according
to a new GSMA study.
The study found that rising mobile phone
ownership and the ongoing migration to
mobile broadband networks and services
across the region will see the mobile
ecosystem’s economic contribution
continue to increase over the coming
years, forecast to reach almost US$70
billion (9.5% of GDP) by 2023.
“The report underlines the vital role
the mobile ecosystem is playing in
contributing to economic growth, social
development and job creation across
West Africa,” said Akinwale Goodluck,
Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA.
The report reveals that:
• The number of unique mobile
subscribers across West Africa
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reached 185 million at the end of
2018, equivalent to 48% of the
region’s population
Future subscriber growth will largely be
driven by young consumers owning a
mobile phone for the first time
3G will overtake 2G to become
the leading mobile technology in
West Africa this year, supporting
about half of the region’s mobile
connections, while 4G momentum is
also building
Local mobile operators are increasing
investment in their networks and are
expected to spend US$8.5 billion on
network infrastructure and services
over the next two years
West Africa’s mobile ecosystem
directly employs around 200,000
people, supports 800,000 jobs in the
informal employment sector, and
a further 600,000 jobs across the
wider economy
Mobile is the primary platform for
accessing the Internet in West Africa n
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