While many of the world’s largest banks face their toughest times, African banks are moving closer to the 230 million unbanked households in Africa’s rural areas through advanced satellite technologies.
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The changing pace of economics

While I made reference to the economic downturn in our Summer 2008 edition of Talking Drums, circumstances on the global markets have changed significantly.
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The carrier model -

changing to sharing

The market opportunity in Africa is massive. We’ve seen mobile operators in particular, making huge investments in Africa.
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Changing face of Gateway

in East Africa

Silvio do Carmo appointed to

ICT Board of Mozambique

A Year of Development, Progress and Change

Transformation is afoot across Africa. Whilst the climate may be changing in both the environmental and economic sense, African entrepreneurs continue to generate new ways of working in today’s transforming business world.

East Africa is booming - Gateway recently opened offices in Kenya and Uganda.

And it’s here where we see the importance of the change that will occur, by building new infrastructure for communications services, delivering IT connectivity across Africa.

While the global financial crisis continues unabated, business leaders are still bullish about Africa for 2009. Many leading businesses expect their operations in Africa to continue growing at rates above the global average in 2009, albeit slower than in recent years. This is a huge opportunity for Gateway, as a company that has been and always will be fully focused on Africa.

Sectors such as oil & gas, banking & finance, are all set to grow in Africa. And we can provide local, regional and international companies with the necessary infrastructure to run their business. We’ve worked with Nigerian banks who want to be able to expand into rural areas, as well as oil companies who want to enable their workers to talk to families far away.

This year we expect rapid growth in East Africa from both the business services division and carrier services, where we are increasingly seen as the carrier’s carrier.

We are building Africa’s future communication network. The impact is social and economic, and future developments and growth will benefit both. The expertise and experience we have across Africa is our foundation for the Gateway business. In Mozambique, for example, Silvio do Carmo, has been asked to join the government of Mozambique’s ICT Advisory Board.

Our region presents opportunities for growth in 2009. You can’t say that about the US or Western Europe. It’s going to be Gateway’s most exciting year yet, and I am equally excited about our continuing CSR programme across the continent. I look forward to working with you all as we see further transformations in African telecommunications.

With best wishes for 2009,