It's no secret that telcos across the globe are grappling with how to monetize their 5G networks. But in Africa, only 1% of operators have implemented 5G, which puts them in a unique position to take advantage of new technology like AI and the public cloud, and apply them to old 2G and 3G networks.

I recently appeared as a guest on the Ali Talks Tech podcast, which focuses on Africa's changing technical landscape. Host Ali Hussein Kassim and I explored how African telcos can capitalize on using the public cloud with mobile networks and how AI and innovative tools are poised to drive real change across the continent. Listen now to hear:

• How African telcos can benefit from the latest public cloud tech—even on 2G and 3G networks [02:31 ];
• Zain Sudan’s groundbreaking work to connect older networks to AI and cloud services [11:02 ];
• How cloud-based, pay-as-you-grow models are supercharging MVNOs in Nigeria [17:32 ]; and
• How hyperscaler tools, AI and the public cloud can help telcos hyper-personalize offers and bring in new revenue [19:50 ].

Links and Resources

Show Notes:

• Watch the video-version of my full conversation with Ali on the Ali Talks Tech YouTube channel.
• Read McKinsey & Company’s January 2024 report, Africa’s leap ahead into cloud: Opportunities and barriers
• Read the announcement of Totogi’s exciting partnership with Zain Sudan, and don’t miss my first conversation with Ali and Abdalla Hamid, Director of IT at Zain Sudan, where we talked about Totogi’s work to restore critical mobile services in Sudan after they were knocked out during the ongoing civil war.
• Then be sure to check out my recent blog and Telco in 20 episode 89 to find out why the public cloud is PERFECT for Africa. 
• Take a look at the 2022 McKinsey & Company study about FinTech across Africa, African financial services are undergoing a structural shift, which Ali took part in.
• Ali and I talked about the company that gave me my start back in the late 1990s, Trilogy. It was a $1B startup success story that garnered a lot of headlines at the time. Fast Company wrote about Trilogy in a piece called Insanity Inc. Here’s the cover from that issue. Look for me in the top right corner!
• In 2015, the American news show 60 Minutes aired The Future of Money about M-PESA, Kenya's mobile money solution from Safaricom.
• Check out the Ali Talks Tech podcast for insights on Africa's rapidly changing tech landscape.
• Listen to this episode on our YouTube channel.
• Read the transcript for this episode here.

Wanna talk public cloud? Telco execs, set up a meeting with our team to learn how to tap the immense business value it can bring. 

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This week’s guest

Ali Hussein Kassim, Ali Talks Tech founder and host

Ali is a serial entrepreneur and a regular commentator and contributor on all things tech and the policy and regulatory landscape across Africa and beyond. He consults on digital transformation, and serves in leadership roles on public and private sector boards including Africa Fintech Network, Association of Fintechs in Kenya, and Kenya ICT Action Network. He enjoys mentoring and investing in tech entrepreneurs across Africa. 

Podcast Credits

• Executive Producer and Host: Danielle Rios Royston, TelcoDR
• Senior Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
• Senior Editor/Brand Manager: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
• Audio Editor: Andrew Condell
• Supervising Producer: Amanda Avery
• Associate Producer: Kriselda Dionisio
• Music: Dyami Wilson