The arrival of three submarine cables to Africa in the past year has quadrupled data speeds and cut prices by 90%. Since mobile-phone coverage is far better than fixed-line availability, the result has been that the cellphone is swiftly becoming Africa’s computer of choice. By some counts there are already 84m mobiles in Africa with at least rudimentary internet connectivity. A $90 smartphone made by China’s Huawei and running Google’s Android operating system sold out in several African countries in less than a month.
For those who want to sell entertainment, however, the future is written on tablets. Here, Samsung has stolen an early lead with its Tab. Though it now costs around $500 in Africa, Erik Hersman, a tech expert in Nairobi, expects its price to fall by half in the coming year. Apple so far shows few signs of bringing the iPad within reach of most Africans. Wholesale buyers in Africa think the market will take off once tablets drop below $200.
Read more at The Economist
