In a pioneering move to connect the unconnected populations of Africa, KaiOS Technologies and Mobihive Lab have announced a strategic partnership, focusing on offering Smart Feature phone on easy instalments to unbanked customers using their proprietary digital platform having features like eKYC, CRM, credit profiling engine, AI-generated instalment plans and locking and unlocking mechanism. The collaboration aims to bring 4G KaiOS Smart Feature phones to first-time users and existing 2G subscribers in Zambia, Rwanda, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone.

Unlocking Connectivity with Affordable Solutions

This partnership empowers consumers with affordable options, allowing them to pay a deposit from as low as $10 and walk away with Smart Feature device, followed by affordable weekly or daily repayments. By alleviating financial barriers, the initiative aspires to drive digital inclusion and internet adoption across the targeted regions.

Connecting the Unconnected

Dale Strydom, Business Development Director MEA of KaiOS Technologies, said, “This collaboration with Mobihive Lab is a leap towards bridging the digital divide in Africa. By offering accessible and budget-friendly smart feature phones, we are unlocking the potential of digital connectivity and enabling millions to access the internet and the benefits it brings.”

In the partnered regions, Mobihive Lab will leverage KaiOS’s robust device financing locking technology to make the 4G KaiOS Smart Feature phones available, thus playing a crucial role in connecting the unconnected and fostering digital empowerment.

Enhancing Digital Footprint in Africa

Chetan Dogra, MD of Mobihive Lab, expressed, “Our partnership with KaiOS Technologies symbolizes a shared vision of enhancing digital inclusion in Africa. By introducing affordable payment plans, we are not just making technology accessible but also fostering a digitally literate society that can leverage the benefits of connectivity.”

The partnership will see the launch of Mobihive Lab in Zambia, Rwanda, Liberia, and the DRC, reaching out to diverse communities and ensuring the availability of smart feature phones.

About KaiOS Technologies

KaiOS Technologies powers an emerging ecosystem of affordable digital products and services. Its flagship product, KaiOS, is the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones with more than 150 million activated devices in over 150 countries.

About Mobihive Lab

Mobihive Labs Limited is a UK-based fintech company specializing in smartphone financing services, specifically Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions for unbanked individuals in Africa. Its state-of-the-art digital platform offers various features, including instant credit profiling, psychometric analysis, eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer), and AI-generated instalment plans. As an added security measure, if a customer fails to make payments, their smartphone can be locked. Its mission is to connect millions of Africans.

Conclusion

This partnership between KaiOS Technologies and Mobihive Lab is not just a business collaboration but a collective step towards a more inclusive and connected world. The companies’ shared mission to make digital connectivity accessible and affordable reflects their commitment to fostering global digital inclusion and literacy.

San Francisco, California / Hong Kong — In a strategic joint effort to fight the global learning crisis and bridge the digital divide, KaiOS Technologies and Worldreader proudly announce a new milestone: One million readers empowered through BookSmart app.  

Since 2020, KaiOS Technologies, the web-based mobile operating system powering a new category of smart feature phones, and Worldreader, the international edtech nonprofit, have partnered to deliver high-quality reading materials to first-time and early internet users on the affordable KaiOS-powered smart feature phones. 

Since the launch of the partnership, over 1 million people, mainly in low and middle income countries where the learning crisis and the digital divide is more severe, have read over 3 million books via the KaiOS powered-smart feature phones on BooKSmart, Worldreader’s mobile reading platform. The alliance has had an important impact in India where it has been activated on the JioPhones and made available on the Jio Store. Rebecca Chandler Leege, CEO of Worldreader, states, “This partnership represents putting the power of reading into the hands of those who need it most.” 

Despite 95% global broadband coverage, the usage gap remains one of the main challenges for people to benefit from the Internet. According to the Global Connectivity Report 2022, 2.7 billion people still don’t connect to the Internet. Device affordability stands as a significant barrier, with nearly 2.5 billion people living in countries where the cost of the cheapest smartphone accounts for a quarter or more of their average monthly income (Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2020). 

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the learning crisis is particularly worrying, with more than 86% of ten years old children not able to comprehend a simple text, and where access to reading materials at home is scarce or nonexistent. With most countries having as low as 7% of books present at the household level (Countdown to 2030, 2021), the lack of access has a significant impact in building healthy reading habits among families. 

Both organizations are committed to expanding their global reach and impact, focusing primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa, to continue tackling the device affordability and learning crisis. Sebastien Codeville, CEO and co-founder of KaiOS Technologies, says, “KaiOS’ mission to close the digital divide would not be complete without meaningful partnerships like the one with Worldreader, which enables our users to access useful and impactful content, that contributes to changing their life”. 

 
About Worldreader 

Worldreader gets children reading so they can reach their potential. An international ed-tech nonprofit organization, Worldreader supports parents and caregivers, school teachers, educators, and local partners with access to digital reading materials, training, impact data, and continuous engagement. Our aim is to support early childhood development and reading outcomes for children in under-resourced communities as well as in conflict and crisis settings.  

Having pioneered digital reading in the Global South since 2010, Worldreader has supported over 22 million readers in more than 100 countries. Worldreader believes that when children and caregivers are motivated and increase their volume and frequency of reading, short-term outcomes such as improved reading comprehension, and social-emotional learning will be enhanced, leading to long-term educational outcomes, higher earning potential and stronger emotional intelligence. 

Congratulations to our partner Worldreader honored with Prestigious Library of Congress Literacy Award!

Since its inception, Worldreader has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to empowering readers, particularly in areas with limited access to reading. Using digital technology like KaiOS Smart Feature phones, Worldreader provides access to thousands of digital books, enabling millions of people around the world to enhance their reading skills and digital literacy.

Learn more about Worldreader award here https://hubs.la/Q021CFxM0