The Scramble for Africa

Abstract:     
Despite all the perceived risks, Africa has proved to be a very successful location for mobile network operators that are investing substantial sums, building networks and making profits. However, much of that profit is being taken from Africa and much of the investment is equipment from non-African manufacturers. Nonetheless, the economic effects of the use of mobile phones, the retail distribution networks and the employment and training of staff create benefits for individuals and for national economies.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 27

Keywords: Africa, telecommunications, wireless, mobile

JEL Classification: L96, F14, K23, L5

working papers series