Digital media use in Sub-Saharan Africa

Connected worldOpinion LeaderSocial skills in the classroom: digital connected consumerSustaining brand relevance with themedia use in Sub-Saharan Africa Share this In Focus

Social skills in the classroom: digital media use in Sub-Saharan AfricaFor the world’s fastest-growing Internet population the web is a social,educational and largely handheld tool. Brands must adapt their digitalstrategies to the available technology in order to succeed.Sub-Saharan Africa boasts the world’s fastest growing Internetpopulation, increasing by over 2500 percent between 2000 and 2011.However, these consumers’ experience of digital media remains verydifferent to that of audiences in other markets, focused on less playful,more purposeful roles such as social networking, e-learning and banking. Share this In Focus

Social skills in the classroom: digital media use in Sub-Saharan AfricaDigital life is mobile wielding archetype of more developed markets. He orSub-Saharan consumption of digital media is she is typically younger (43 percent are aged 16-24, 43%predominantly mobile. The spectacular growth in compared to 27 percent of web users worldwide),Internet access for the region has been driven by even with lower spending power, and holds a Nokia ormore impressive rises in mobile penetration. The 695 Samsung feature phone rather than an iPhone ormillion mobile subscriptions in the region today equate Android handset. of Sub-Saharan smart phone or tabletto 65 percent mobile access, and represent a 4000 users aged 16-24percent increase over the last 10 years. The expansion Such differences have shaped a distinct approachof mobile broadband and increasing competition to digital media in the region, with the popularity 26%between networks will further boost the availability and of different services and solutions often dependingaffordability of mobile web access through driving down on their accessibility via mobile technologies such asthe cost of both data plans and handsets. Four out of WAP and SMS. Constraints on Internet access speedsevery five Internet users in Sub-Saharan Africa accesses and affordability mean a reduced appetite for onlinethe Internet via mobile phone, compared to one in three entertainment (only 6 percent of web users watch of worldwide smart phone or tabletglobally. Three quarters of Sub-Saharan Africans say YouTube videos compared to 37 percent worldwide) users aged 16-24they would be happy to do all of their Internet surfing and shopping (10 percent have browsed and 2 percentvia mobile phone (compared to just over a quarter in completed purchases online, compared to global figuresdeveloped countries). of 37 percent and 24 percent respectively). Instead, Sub-Saharan consumers’ use of digital media is focusedThe region’s typical mobile web consumer cuts a distinct on immediate needs, via platforms that can be accessedfigure, very different to the smartphone or tablet- across a range of handsets. Share this In Focus

Social skills in the classroom: digital media use in Sub-Saharan AfricaSocial networks shape the web experienceCommunication is the foremost of these needs and 58%social networking is the digital channel that Sub-SaharanAfrica’s mobile web users turn to, in order to fulfill it.Social networking is the most important online activityfor 58 percent of Internet users in the region, compared Tanzania case study of Sub-Saharan Internet users think social In Tanzania, the BridgeIT initiative, known locally asto 26 percent globally. Four out of five use Facebook networking is the most important online activity Elimu kwa Teknologia or Education through Technology,compared to two out of five worldwide. Accessed enables teachers to access a catalogue of educationalrelatively easily on a broad range of mobile handsets, video content using Nokia N95 mobile phones, 26% which are then connected to classroom TVs.there are signs that social networks are becoming thecornerstone of the digital media experience, used for The University of Pretoria In South Africa uses mobilesharing information as well as catching up. Significantly technology to support its paper-based distance-learningfor advertisers, 70 percent of Sub-Saharan web users programmes for postgraduate students in rural areas.say that social networks are a good place to learn about believe this globally. Dr Math, launched in 2007 and with 32,000 users inproducts and brands. South Africa, provides a mobile tutoring service hosted via a free application, MXit and available for less thanMajor role for information and education online activity compares to 10 percent worldwide. the price of an SMS. Although many mobile-based educational programmes are in their infancy, there isEducation and learning is the second most important This reflects both the younger average age of the clearly strong demand for suppliers who can matchuse of digital media in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Internet population – and the role that the mobile quality resources to innovative forms of low-cost18 percent of web users nominating knowledge- Internet is playing in extending access to educational mobile delivery.gathering and education as their most important content to rural classrooms. Share this In Focus

Social skills in the classroom: digital media use in Sub-Saharan AfricaNumerous studies have attested to the value of jobs. MTN has launched its own Mobile Money servicethe mobile web in bringing market knowledge and across 12 African countries with 5.1 million registeredinformation to remote rural communities. Establishing subscribers by June 2011. 14 Millionearly-mover authority in such areas could prove animportant strategy for mobile providers looking to Mobile banking will continue to grow in Sub-Saharanretain market share. Nokia is one example, having Africa, powered by distrust of banks and the demand M-PESA subscribers in Kenyarecently launched its OVI Life Tools app to provide for safe, affordable financial transfers, often in smallAfrican consumers with affordable access to agricultural denominations. As the capabilities of phones increase,information, educational content and market prices. mobile banking may well become more sophisticated. Amongst Sub-Saharan web users, 65 percent say theyStrong growth in mobile bankingOvercoming traditional barriers to opportunity is thedriver of another significant use of digital media: are interested in Internet banking (compared to 27 percent worldwide); 70 percent say they are interested in banking via mobile phone. 32,000 jobs have been created since the launch of M-PESAmobile banking. This area has seen major growthsince the pioneering launch of Safaricom’s M-PESA $ 9.6 Billionin Kenya in 2007. M-PESA is now used by over 14million subscribers in Kenya and a further 2.7 millionin Tanzania. The platform, which allows customers todeposit, withdraw and transfer money via SMS using total transaction value since the launch in 2007 ($)a network of M-PESA agents has conducted transactionsworth USD $12.75 billion and created more than 32,000 Share this In Focus

Social skills in the classroom: digital media use in Sub-Saharan AfricaImmediate and future opportunities Market forces within the mobile industry will lead to of digital platforms and functions is likely to increase asSub-Saharan Africa’s army of Internet users is still continued strong growth in web access and to a broader phones become a more familiar feature of daily life.a relatively small one at 12 percent of the total range of opportunities for businesses targeting the At the same time, marketers must continue to adaptpopulation, and it remains very focused on immediately online population. Mobile broadband access will rise their activities to the capabilities of mobile handsets inpractical, low-cost, mobile web applications. However, with infrastructure investment (over USD $70 billion different markets, as well as the broader characteristicssignificant opportunities exist for organisations that infrastructure investment by mobile operators in 2012) of different countries and cultures. Exporting businesscan adapt digital communications strategies to fit this and the reduced cost of handsets and data plans as a models from other regions (or even other countriespattern of web use. result of competition. Smartphones will play a greater within Sub-Saharan Africa) is unlikely to prove effective. role as they become more affordable: the Huawei This is an extremely diverse region, and understanding ofThe reaction of mobile owners to the Somalian famine Ideos smartphone launched in Kenya in 2011 sold over cultural nuances, demographics and different stages ofprovides a demonstration of the role that social networks 30,000 units in its first month and mobile manufacturer digital development is crucial to creating engagement.and mobile banking can play when aligned with broader HTC has announced its intention to launch a sub-USDawareness through offline media. Facebook, Twitter and $100 Android smartphone into the region. However, 12%SMS were used to mobilise support across Kenya’s urban the most significant area of increased opportunity isand rural populations after mainstream media initially consumers’ growing familiarity with the digital platformsraised awareness of the plight of Somalian refugees. available through their handsets. Most mobile ownersKenyans responded by donating USD $67 million, in Sub-Saharan Africa have been using their phones for of Sub-Saharan total population use the Internetwith the majority of private donations coming through two years or less – and their appetite for a broader rangeM-PESA Share this In Focus

About In FocusIn Focus is part of a regular series of articles that takes an in-depth look at a particular subject, region ordemographic in more detail. All articles are written by TNS consultants and based on their expertise gatheredthrough working on client assignments in over 80 markets globally, with additional insights gained through TNSproprietary studies such as Digital Life and Mobile Life. About the author Mark Molenaar is Director, Client Service at TNS,About TNS based in Cape Town. Mark has been with TNS forTNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and over 18 years during which time he has helped clients to understand consumer dynamics across differentstakeholder management, based on long-established expertise and market-leading solutions. With a presence sectors and the opportunities that these present forin over 80 countries, TNS has more conversations with the world’s consumers than anyone else and understands brands. Mark is heavily involved in interpreting TNS’sindividual human behaviours and attitudes across every cultural, economic and political region of the world. Mobile Life and Digital Life studies and the advanceTNS is part of Kantar, one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. of digital and mobile across Africa.Please visit www.tnsglobal.com for more information. For more information please visit www.tnsglobal.comGet in touch enquiries@tnsglobal.comIf you would like to talk to us about anything you have read in this report, please get in touch via or Twitter @tns_globalenquiries@tnsglobal.com or via Twitter @tns_global Share this In Focus

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Digital media use in Sub-Saharan Africa

by TNS on Jun 15, 2012

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