密歇根州罗斯校友公司正在努力降低非洲互联网接入的成本-新东方前途出国

　　November 27, 2019Michigan Ross Alum Is Working To Lower The Cost Of Internet Access In Africa Print Share 

　　2019年11月27日密歇根州罗斯校友公司正在努力降低非洲互联网接入的成本

　　Connectivity looks very different in emerging markets, and especially in Africa, where historically the cost of internet and mobile devices have prohibited the majority of the population from accessing the internet. That’s now changing, thanks to advances in technology, the falling price of smartphones, and the work being done on the ground by leaders like Alicia Levine, MBA ’11.

　　在新兴市场，尤其是在非洲，连通性看起来大不相同。在非洲，互联网和移动设备的成本历来禁止大多数人访问互联网。由于技术的进步，智能手机价格的下降，以及像Alicia Levine这样的领导人在当地所做的工作，这种情况正在改变。 在线咨询

　　In 2015, Levine moved to Kenya and became COO of Surf Kenya, a newly launched subsidiary of EveryLayer, a company that uses its proprietary software stack to deliver high-speed, affordable broadband.

　　2015年，Levine搬到肯尼亚，成为Surf Kenya的运营官，Surf Kenya是EveryLayer新成立的子公司，EveryLayer是一家使用其专有软件栈提供高速、经济的宽带的公司。

　　Advancements in mobile digital services, particularly in critical areas such as communications, financial services, and healthcare, are causing a huge spike in demand for access to the internet globally, including in Africa.”

　　移动数字服务的发展，特别是在通信、金融服务和医疗保健等关键领域的发展，正在导致全球（包括非洲）互联网接入需求的大幅飙升。”

　　-Alicia Levine, MBA ’11

　　-Alicia Levine，工商管理硕士'11

　　Director of Business Transformation, BRCK

　　业务转型总监

　　“In Kenya and much of Africa, people use their mobile devices as their primary means of accessing the internet, oftentimes in one location — such as their local market, a local eatery, or a frequented beauty shop — and we knew that a network of public hotspots would be extremely effective and much cheaper than a large mobile network, said Levine. “We also knew that the network was only half of the equation. We also needed a new way of doing business to ensure affordability for our customers.”

　　“在肯尼亚和非洲大部分地区，人们经常在一个地方使用移动设备作为上网的主要手段——例如当地市场、当地餐馆或经常光顾的美容店——我们知道，公共热点网络将非常有效，比大型移动网络便宜得多，莱文说。“我们也知道，网络只是等式的一半。我们还需要一种新的经营方式，以确保我们的客户能够负担得起。” 在线咨询

　　To dramatically lower the cost, Levine said Surf innovated new business models to pay for internet, scaling lower cost networks and subsidizing costs by awarding data bundles in exchange for engagement such as sponsored app downloads, video advertisements, or consumer surveys.

　　为了大幅降低成本，Levine说，Surf创新了新的商业模式来支付互联网费用，扩展了低成本网络，并通过授予数据包来补贴成本，以换取赞助的应用程序下载、视频广告或消费者调查等服务。

　　Thanks to a strategic, local approach to technology deployment, by the time Surf was acquired by BRCK in February 2019, the company had 65 employees and was connecting more than 200,000 people a month to the internet in Kenya.

　　由于采用了战略性的本地技术部署方法，到2019年2月BRCK收购Surf时，该公司已有65名员工，每月将超过20万人连接到肯尼亚的互联网。

　　For students considering pursuing similar, more nontraditional career paths, Levine advised:

　　对于考虑走类似、更非传统职业道路的学生，莱文建议：

　　“Don’t be afraid to jump in and try something new and take a chance on a new technology or business model. If you want to do tech in Africa, take the leap and move to where you want to be. You’ll be energized and inspired by what’s happening around you every day.”

　　“不要害怕跳进去尝试新的东西，在新的技术或商业模式上冒险。如果你想在非洲做科技，那就跳到你想去的地方。每天发生的事情会让你充满活力和灵感。”