Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Content in Africa: The Coming Storm?

Akbar Hussain, Sr. Legal Manager - Africa, Airtel Africa, Kenya

The mobile phone (and the smart phone, in particular) is increasingly displacing other mediums as a way to channel content. Given the growth and importance of the telecommunications industry in Africa, and the relentless penetration of smart phone technology, it is therefore unsurprising that Africans are consuming, and creating, an increasing volume of content, of both African and international provenance, on their enabled phones. Smartphone spending in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase by 5.9% in 2014, while feature phones will decrease by 10.9% (International Data Corporation (IDC).

Akbar Hussain is Senior Legal Counsel at the African headquarters of the international mobile network operating company Bharti Airtel Africa. He is trained in both common and civil law, and is licensed to practice in the state of New York. In addition to telecoms experience, Mr. Hussain has M&A and IP experience with a large North American law firm. Mr. Hussain is trilingual (English, French and Hindi/Urdu).

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), a leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries, and over 50 million subscribers, across Asia and Africa.