Siglo Goes to Africa

Connectivity is a priority in Rwanda

Launching in new markets is a top priority for Siglo.

I just returned from Kigali, Rwanda, where I joined Advisor Lan Tschirky and had the privilege to talk about Siglo and connectivity to key advocates for technology, innovation and connectivity across the African continent.

In the last decade, Rwanda transformed itself into a center of innovation in Africa.

As a country, Rwanda has seen the highest GDP growth in the world in recent years.

But of course, you can’t have innovation and a thriving economy without connectivity. And the importance that Rwandans place on connectivity are everywhere.

As you drive from the airport, every few blocks, walls are painted in bright yellow with messaging from a local mobile operator, MTN. Still, according to GSMA Intelligence data, prepaid SIM cards still make up 99% of the market!

This is where Siglo plays such a key role: by increasing the connectivity for these prepaid mobile users.

Right now, almost every street corner has more than several people with t-shirts and umbrellas advertising the prepaid scratch cards so users can purchase more airtime for their phones. After all, the internet is necessity and access shouldn’t be limited.

It’s a connected world. Or is it?

Not nearly as much as some people like to think.That’s why we believe Siglo offers a sustainable model to get people more consistent access.

I saw the opportunity in Africa first-hand and I met with top leaders to talk about the Siglo Protocol. The response was overwhelming and groundwork is already being laid for our expansion to the African continent where only 25% of the population have access to internet in their phones according to GSM.

We are in talks to launch in Rwanda as a gateway market to the greater African region.

In addition to offering some of the apps and tools we have already built there, we want to work with local entrepreneurs and developers to help facilitate the monetization of their own apps, and, of course, to help get their own user bases more connectivity. The development of this ecosystem of apps, developers, and users is central to the Siglo roadmap over the coming months.

More detailed announcements coming soon!

by Joel Phillips, co-founder and CEO of Siglo