Opera recently celebrated its 100 million user in Africa. file photo | nmg
Mobile browser Opera Software plans to
open an office in Nairobi that will employ a hundred people under its
Sh10.5 billion investment across Africa.
The Kenyan
office will become the East African hub. The Oslo-listed firm said it
plans to hire the 100 Kenyans over the next three years. They will be
trained on web development to drive product penetration via an
artificial intelligence engine for smartphones to ensure content
discovery.
Opera, which recently celebrated its 100
million user in Africa, said it will also open another office in Nigeria
to serve the West African region.
Opera Software vice
president Africa Richard Monday said the continent was an important
market that uses Opera Mini on smart phones to access the internet.
“Africa
is a very important market for Opera. Nine of the top 20 Opera Mini
user countries are from Africa. We will build a local platform and grow
with the local business partners where we will expand the user base for
content providers, e-commerce businesses, operators, original equipment
manufacturers and others to strengthen their market presence,” he said.
Opera
said it is working with 47 top-tier African publishers covering 107
websites on the initiative that will see them launch fast and affordable
internet in Kenya and across Africa.
The company,
which has been conducting a multi-million shilling advertising campaign
on Kenyan television, added that it was looking for local partners to
integrate value-added services, mobile payment and data bundling into
its browser product.
“This will grant consumers access
to quality content and services, giving them the ability to transact
more easily on their mobile devices. The range of services to be added
over the next 12 months will create a content and services hub that will
provide African users with a truly unique experience,” it said.
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