Why Google’s African broadband initiative isn’t about philanthropy

[sincity]

One of the things that makes Google such an interesting company is that it often embarks on projects that have an altruistic bent, but that are also designed to be long-term boosters to the company's bottom line. For example, making Android free to manufactures to use wasn't just a way to hasten the spread of the mobile web but also a way to ensure that Google's mobile apps and services (and ads) would be widely used on smartphones. Similarly, Google Fiber isn't just a way to boost Internet connectivity in the United States but also a way to boost the amount of time people spend using Google services. With this in mind, it's easy to understand why Google is working to bring mobile broadband connectivity to Africa: The company wants to get an early start on securing its next generation of customers.

 

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[KevinBacon]

I guess the continent could be called an untapped resource that might create a huge market as wireless technology becomes more affordable.

Not too many years ago, cell phones were probably a rarely seen sight over there. However, now they seem to be rather common..