Samsung to double smartphones penetration in Africa

By Standard Reporter

Samsung Electronics has announced plans to double its smart phones marketing plans in Africa as part of a strategy to bridge the continents digital divide. Samsung, currently riding high on the global scene as the number one Smart Phones vendor. It wants to enhance its sales and marketing programmes in Africa to enable local mobile phone subscribers enjoy Internet access on smart devices.

Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa during the Africa Regional launch for the new Samsung Galaxy Note II and Samsung Galaxy Camera, Samsung Electronics Africa Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Ferreira, disclosed that Africa is now the second largest and fastest mobile phone market in the world after China, with Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana leading the pack in smart phone sales. Samsung Electronics East Africa Business Leader Robert Ngeru accompanied him.

Fereira said the continents mobile phone market has grown from a base of 90 million in 2005 to a current estimate of 450 million handsets. He observed that Samsung will focus on forging partnerships with leading mobile phone operators in Africa to reach out to consumers across sub Sahara Africa. “With such growth and market potential in Africa, Samsung will deepen the local smart phones market by introducing quality products as part of a very deliberate effort to bridge Africa’s digital divide,” Fereira said. The launch of both the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera attests to Samsung’s commitment to bridge the digital divide as we hold Africa with very high importance.

According to Ngeru, consumers expect mobile devices to fit seamlessly into their lifestyles and open the way to new experiences. “Understanding this, Samsung has developed our smart mobile devices to be more intuitive, personal and immediately expressive,” he said.