The African continent has attracted numerous international investors seeking new business deals across the continent. Africa is being promoted as the next global technology hub and the continent is said to be on the brink of unprecedented growth and prosperity.

Africa has experienced rapid growth in the ICT sector and with over half a billion mobile subscribers, the continent is set to become a choice destination for telecom investors.

According to Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO of Synchronica, a UK based mobile messaging service provider- “The negative publicity that plagues Africa as a business destination is outdated. While corruption, poor infrastructure and institutional bureaucracy can certainly make for a challenging business environment, Synchronica has found the continent to be incredibly entrepreneurial and backed up with a wealth of highly skilled, resourceful and incredibly talented people”.

Here are 9 reasons to invest in African ICT:

1. Infrastructure

Africa’s infrastructure has improved over the past 5 years with new roads, airports, power plants and communication networks projects being planned and rolled out across the continent. According to NEPAD.org, in July 2010, African leaders launched a new programme for infrastructure development in Africa (PIDA), led by the African Union, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and African Development Bank (ADB). According to the NEPAD.org website, the initiative is said to have a budget of several billion dollars.

2. Mobile

Global mobile telecommunication companies that have taken the bold step of investing in the African mobile industry are reaping a high return on investment (ROI). A typical example is Bharti Airtel, a company that is currently investing over $1 billion in its mobile operations in Africa.

3. Mobile Money

Africa’s mobile transactions are spearheading the future of banking on the continent. Safaricom Kenya’s M-Pesa is currently dominating the East African mobile money landscape.

4. Mobile Internet

Africa has experienced a massive boom in mobile phone access with more than 500 million active mobile phones across the continent.

5. e-Government

e-Government has arrived in Africa and great progress has been made to fully implement projects such as sms gov services and setting up information kiosks at various community centres.

6. Broadband

There’s been a significant progress in Africa’s broadband investments with high capacity broadband projects being rolled out across the continent.

7. E-Agriculture

The use of mobile technology in African commercial farming is gaining momentum. Mobile phones are currently being used by farmers in various African countries to determine daily farm prices in local markets, , process orders and to issue warnings of an imminent drought or severe rain. e-Agriculture has fast revolutionised communication between subsistence and commercial farmers.

8. Energy

This is not strictly ICT related but energy generation is one area we felt should not be left out of any discussion on investment opportunities in Africa.

9. E- Healthcare

African Scientists and health professionals are using the latest technology to diagnose some of the continent’s most deadly diseases.

(Source: IT News Africa)