LINX121: Factors driving the African Internet Evolution – Lessons from Kenya
Internet expansion and the broader digital evolution in Africa are happening at a phenomenal rate. This presentation will look at the factors driving this evolution. We take the perspective that, “The next big thing is a lot of small things,” where the connectivity evolution in Africa is contingent on the emergence of many small operators. We will use Kenya as a lens to project this trajectory for the rest of the continent. In particular, we’ll unpack how the region is responding to an improved policy and regulatory environment. We will also look at how micro-entrepreneurship and the availability of electronic payments through mobile platforms are influencing digitization efforts across all sectors, and how this is fuelling the demand for affordable Internet access services, content hosting infrastructure and peering. Further, the presentation will also highlight emerging opportunities across the ecosystem.