Why is Google so much interested in Africa, a region with only 1% internet users in the world?

I was recently amazed by the queries and worries that people raised during one of the local TV Shows about digitalizing Uganda. The show was conducted by the young vibrant speakers who did their best to explain all the wonders about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus. All was good until one of the tech guys from Makerere University illustrated how you can use Google earth to clearly localize your house. The audience didn’t let him finish the demonstration. A gentleman in his mid 40s grabbed the microphone and expressed his anger: “Do we have to be on internet? Don’t I have an option of saying NO to the digital world? Is internet not one way that these whites want to use to colonize us again? Aren’t we heading for another regional war like what is happening to our brothers in North Africa where social media was used to start conflicts? If you can zoom to see my house, how am I sure that no one is reading my messages on yahoo, g-mail or facebook?” I observed that the TV presenter had issues with his invited audience and he intelligently posed for a commercial break. With this attitude of the majority of inhabitants and 1% of internet users in Africa, someone wonders why is Google here again for another regional conference themed ‘Get Online and Grow your Digital Strategy’! However, it is important to note that a recent World Bank study based on analysis of 120 countries found that a 10% change in broadband adoption is associated with a 1.38% increase in GDP per capita growth in developing. May be Google is seriously committed to Africa’s sustainable development.

After attending last year’s G-Uganda conference, I honored the invitation from Albert Mucunguzi, the founder of PC Tech Magazine for the second G-Day at Sheraton Hotel. Besides, it was free of charge including three delicious meals from a five star hotel and free fast internet connections. As I came closer to the conference room, I was entertained by these big computer screens, colorful Android phones and the latest smart phones and ipads from SamSung. The room was lively with our local popular instrumental musicians like Maurice Kirya, Ouma Michael and Richard Kaweesa. I couldn’t resist to YouTube Richard’s song “Tula mela Tula mayo, It’s all good it’s all fan”. I noticed that most attendees were young men and women. If I am not mistaken, the oldest person I saw at the event was either Simon Kahure, the founder of SMS Media or the owner of Uganda Safaris, Tours and Lodges. I also got an opportunity of chatting with one of the local IT entrepreneurs, Joseph Owino, CEO of Owino Solutions, the upcoming East African online store that accepts local payments like MTN Mobile. Nevertheless, I was still focused at these googlers to get answers to my question.

Of course, I couldn’t wait to see the luckiest African, Ham Namakajjo, Google country director who was appointed shortly after launching G-Mail SMS for Africa. Quietly, I got my seat and listened to opening remarks of Ham, “We are delighted to receive Google international group in Uganda and the attendees who see the huge potential of internet for this country. Our aim of being here is to create a vibrant internet environment in Uganda, because the internet offers something for everyone, whether to boost your business or to help you in your everyday life. During this conference, you will be able to learn business technologies such as website optimization, online advertising, Google earth, how to make lots of money through Google Adsense, DoubleClick and Admob, mobile development applications, Android functionalities, Google Apps and Google AppEngine. ” He continued to show case the products that Google has developed for Africa such as:

• Google SMS where mobile users can search for health and Agriculture tips
• Google search in local languages (Luganda, Swahili, Luo, Runyankitara)
• Google MapMaker which has made it possible for slum mapping
• Gmail in Swahili that was created specifically for East Africans
• Gmail SMS that allows Gmail users in Uganda to send and receive chat messages-for-free-as text messages
• Google Baraza a question-answer service integrated into Google search results designed specifically for Africa 
•  iGoogle: the Google home page that lets users personalize their search experience with a theme and gadgets to bring them their favorite content from all over the web
• Google News: Google automatically gathers the entire local online news on one platform and group it per African country, region and city
• Google Traders platform where local merchants and farmers send/receive SMS about what they are selling and buying

All the above mentioned products are free of charge. My favorite product is Google Baraza where I actually posted my question, “why is Google in Africa?”. I immediately got a list of replies with important links including Google Africa blog. Actually, this is how I learnt the mission of Google in Africa that states: “To get more African users online by developing an accessible, relevant and sustainable internet ecosystem”. I am not sure whether this mission answers the gentleman’s questions on the TV show. I keep on wondering whether Google is only getting Africans online or it is creating a niche market as Yahoo and Bing think that Africans are still sleeping! Or may it is a way of penetrating in the region’s fastest growing market of mobile phones by introducing Android in Africa? And if we get online, what happens next? Please feel free to post your view about Google’s interests in Africa.