In emerging markets, there are examples where mobile operators and regulators are eager to migrate customers on mass from 2G to 4G to reduce costs and investment in modern networks. However, encouraging customers to migrate from their feature phones to smartphones can be cost-prohibitive for many consumers. In addition, they are looking for ways to increase the specification of the devices offered to their customers, providing a richer customer experience.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of mobile devices can be around 30% of the average monthly wage. More shockingly, the median cost of an entry-level smart device still represents 120% of monthly income for the poorest – representing 20% of the population.