Africa has moved beyond asking if the continent embraces digital technology. The real challenge centers around making digital growth work for everyone across different communities. Industry leaders discussed this topic at a conference held in Nairobi during June 2025. The event brought together experts from telecommunications, content creation, and technology companies. They focused on building systems that people can trust and use easily.
Catherine Njari from Safaricom stressed the importance of understanding what customers actually want. Companies cannot simply offer content without knowing if people need it. Jerome Dutoit from Cafeyn and Kidjo agreed that services must fit local needs rather than copying global models. He pointed out that affordable mobile data remains essential for reaching more users. Eric Tiberghien from Digital Virgo emphasized that Africa contains more than 50 different markets with unique cultures.
The continent has over 520 million mobile phone users. About 80 percent of internet traffic flows through mobile devices. Companies must create content that reflects local languages and customs. Services that work well in one country may fail completely in another. Digital Virgo developed Ethio Arena specifically for Ethiopian youth culture and saw strong user engagement.
Trust emerged as a major theme during the discussions. Users need clear pricing and easy ways to cancel services. Many African countries lack proper rules for mobile billing practices. Companies must regulate themselves when governments do not provide oversight. Strong partnerships between content providers and phone companies help create better services for customers across the continent.
Catherine Njari from Safaricom stressed the importance of understanding what customers actually want. Companies cannot simply offer content without knowing if people need it. Jerome Dutoit from Cafeyn and Kidjo agreed that services must fit local needs rather than copying global models. He pointed out that affordable mobile data remains essential for reaching more users. Eric Tiberghien from Digital Virgo emphasized that Africa contains more than 50 different markets with unique cultures.
The continent has over 520 million mobile phone users. About 80 percent of internet traffic flows through mobile devices. Companies must create content that reflects local languages and customs. Services that work well in one country may fail completely in another. Digital Virgo developed Ethio Arena specifically for Ethiopian youth culture and saw strong user engagement.
Trust emerged as a major theme during the discussions. Users need clear pricing and easy ways to cancel services. Many African countries lack proper rules for mobile billing practices. Companies must regulate themselves when governments do not provide oversight. Strong partnerships between content providers and phone companies help create better services for customers across the continent.
