Nokia Research Africa (NoRA) focuses on understanding the needs of the African mobile phone user and creates concepts and visions to fulfill these needs. The concepts are built into prototypes and pilots and then field tested.
The team must face some Africa specific challenges. The majority of Africans have extremely low income level and less than 10% of the population has access to the fixed electricity grid. This creates a need for new business models. Another challenge is that more than 1000 languages are spoken in 56 countries, sometimes in very isolated communities.
Mobile communication has a great role in social and economical development in Africa. NoRA is co-operating with NGOs and UN organizations to develop such devices and services which could support this progress.
Jussi Impio, Team Leader
