Mobile telephony has transformed access to communication in emerging markets. In 1994, there were more telephone lines in New York City than in the whole of Africa. These days, about two thirds of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is covered by a mobile phone signal. That’s an amazing and profound change yet there are still millions of people who don’t have access to mobile networks.
The tools available to communication regulators to ensure a fair, competitive market fall into two broad categories. The first category is the ability to incentivise more competition and better behaviour in general. This can happen through lowering the barriers to market entry, through opening up new means of service delivery, etc.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a paradox. It is simultaneously an enabler and an obstacle to progress when it comes to radio spectrum.
Electromagnetic spectrum is the crude oil of last-mile connectivity, especially in Africa where more traditional kinds of last-mile communication infrastructure are not especially well-d
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s central banking authority, has approved the new capital base requirements for microfinance banks (MFBs) as per the expectations reported in the MicroCapital story dated June 28.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has withdrawn general provision requirements for loans extended by microfinance banks (MFB) that are secured against collateral.
Dr Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Bangladeshi microfinance institution (MFI) Grameen Bank, recently argued that the Arab world has “misinterpreted the system’s true principles” by operating it as a “charity affair” [1].
The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI), an affiliate of US-based nonprofit ACCION International, recently released a report titled “Opportunities and Obstacles to Financial Inclusion”, that identifies client financial education as the top opportunity in the microfinance sphere [1].
In a recent paper, “Finance and Development: A Tale of Two Sectors,” published in the academic journal American Economic Review, researchers affiliated with the US-based nonprofit Consortium on Financial Systems and Poverty (CFSP), conclude that poor access to financing opportunities in developing countries makes it harder for entrepreneurs to start large-scale businesses like manufacturing [1]
In an attempt to improve regulation of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country, the Bank of Ghana (BoG), the central bank of Ghana, recently issued new operating rules and guidelines under the Non-bank Financial Institutions Act 2008. Among those being regulated are ‘susu’ companies, which are named after a traditional, informal means to save and borrow.
When it comes to ICTs, Government's role is to create and sustain a conducive environment through regulation and legislation.
In addition, a sound government strategy should also consider making strategic investments (aka stimulus plans in the financial and economics world), promoting home grown ICT private sector and addressing appropriate skills development in the education and training sector.
Lastly, any government strategy or intervention should recognize and address the critical facets of the ICT eco-system which I would roughly categorize as infrastructure, content and applications and services. Government ICT Seriousness Ranking
When it comes to ICTs, Government's role is to create and sustain a conducive environment through regulation and legislation.
In addition, a sound government strategy should also consider making strategic investments (aka stimulus plans in the financial and economics world), promoting home grown ICT private sector and addressing appropriate skills development in the education and training sector.
Lastly, any government strategy or intervention should recognize and address the critical facets of the ICT eco-system which I would roughly categorize as infrastructure, content and applications and services. Government ICT Seriousness Ranking
It seems like ages ago but it was less than a year ago that Google sponsored a 
Last week I attended an event in Dakar entitled the 
