Microsoft TechEd, Durban – Although it has only been a couple of months since its launch, Microsoft’s 4Afrika initiative is already able to demonstrate some critical successes.
Speaking at the closing keynote of the Microsoft TechEd 2013 conference, Louis Otieno, director: legal and corporate affairs: Microsoft 4Afrika, points out that Africa’s economy is booming, with 16 of the world’s fastest-growing economies now in Africa.
Microsoft, which has been working in Africa for 20 years and has an eco-system of 10 000 partners, has made Africa a specific focus.
“We decided to focus on two audiences,” says Otieno. “One is the youth. There are 1-billion people on the continent and 44% of them are less than 15 years old – this is an opportunity or a disaster depending on what we do with it. The other audience is the SME, which we believe will drive economic growth.”
Microsoft has also identified three areas to focus on: innovation; skills; and access.
Since the 4Afrika launch in February, Microsoft has moved forward in all of these areas.
In terms of innovation, Otieno says, it has set up an App Factory in South Africa and another in Egypt, and close to 200 apps have already been developed.
In terms of skills development, it has started working with its partner academy, leadership academy, sales and marketing academy and the government leaders academy.
Notable success has been achieved in the area of access, thanks to a programme to use television white spaces to provide connectivity in rural areas.
“In Kenya, Microsoft and its partners are using TV white spaces to deliver universal access,” says Otieno.
“We cannot ignore that Africa is a huge continent. If we want the whole population to participate in economic activity we need to address the rural areas. So we are trying to help all the governments to drive universal access.”
TV white spaces is not a new technology, but it very sustainable, Otieno adds, and can be installed where there is no telecommunications or power since it can run off its own solar generator. Two pilot projects have been installed in Kenya, in the Nanyuki and Kalema regions.
“In Kenya, everyone has phones, so no government is going to get way with saying they can only provide government services in five years’ time – the people want it today, and that’s why projects like these are so important.”
Speaking at the closing keynote of the Microsoft TechEd 2013 conference, Louis Otieno, director: legal and corporate affairs: Microsoft 4Afrika, points out that Africa’s economy is booming, with 16 of the world’s fastest-growing economies now in Africa.
Microsoft, which has been working in Africa for 20 years and has an eco-system of 10 000 partners, has made Africa a specific focus.
“We decided to focus on two audiences,” says Otieno. “One is the youth. There are 1-billion people on the continent and 44% of them are less than 15 years old – this is an opportunity or a disaster depending on what we do with it. The other audience is the SME, which we believe will drive economic growth.”
Microsoft has also identified three areas to focus on: innovation; skills; and access.
Since the 4Afrika launch in February, Microsoft has moved forward in all of these areas.
In terms of innovation, Otieno says, it has set up an App Factory in South Africa and another in Egypt, and close to 200 apps have already been developed.
In terms of skills development, it has started working with its partner academy, leadership academy, sales and marketing academy and the government leaders academy.
Notable success has been achieved in the area of access, thanks to a programme to use television white spaces to provide connectivity in rural areas.
“In Kenya, Microsoft and its partners are using TV white spaces to deliver universal access,” says Otieno.
“We cannot ignore that Africa is a huge continent. If we want the whole population to participate in economic activity we need to address the rural areas. So we are trying to help all the governments to drive universal access.”
TV white spaces is not a new technology, but it very sustainable, Otieno adds, and can be installed where there is no telecommunications or power since it can run off its own solar generator. Two pilot projects have been installed in Kenya, in the Nanyuki and Kalema regions.
“In Kenya, everyone has phones, so no government is going to get way with saying they can only provide government services in five years’ time – the people want it today, and that’s why projects like these are so important.”