NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 13 — Global web innovator, Opera has said that it is looking to diversify its portfolio of investment to include digital literacy, corporate social responsibility and partnerships with governments and institutions in African continent including Kenya.
If realized, the strategic shift will broaden Opera’s collaborations beyond telecommunications companies.
Opera’s Senior Global Communications Manager, Kseniia Sycheva said that the strategy aligns with the company’s vision to cement its presence and increase internet accessibility in Kenya and other African countries which she says, possesses a substantial market potential.
“The Kenyan market for us is very significant. We have around 13 million users here and we are going toe to toe with google chrome on number one mobile browser. I think we share the market in half,” Sycheva said adding that Opera Mini is mostly focused on giving customers access to cheap browsing setting it apart from its competitor.
She said the strategic move will complement the current free data campaigns which is part of Opera’s Africa First strategy which is dedicated to boosting internet penetration in the region and improving technology across its key markets-Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
Kenya is one of the primary beneficiaries of Opera’s $100 million (Sh13.8 billion) investment in the continent, targeted at growing Africa’s digital economy.
Sycheva disclosed that the company has spent Sh 2billion in Kenya alone over the last two and half years in the free data campaign that has seen the Norwegian mobile web browser developer partner with Safaricom and Airtel to offer users up to 3 GB of free browsing per month, as well as investments in data-saving solutions.
The free data campaign is accessible through Opera’s mobile browsers Opera Mini and Opera for Android.
While Opera has not announced major investments in the past year, Sycheva assured that forthcoming announcements will follow once consultations are completed and a clear investment roadmap is defined.
“It is a matter of time when we will know more about it and we will be able to announce our new investment chunks,” she said.
Sycheva stated that Opera is open to discussion with interested partners including the government on the potential areas of partnerships.
While weighing in on the current concerns surrounding data privacy in the country, Sycheva underscored Opera Mini’s commitment to the protection of users data, noting that the company heavily invests in data privacy and security features.
She emphasized that the company strictly adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.
“Opera is a Norwegian company headquartered in Oslo, and we have to comply with very strict European GDPR rules. Those rules and policies are probably the strictest in the world. We comply with policies wherever we operate,” she said.
“We process any kind of information and data we ever get in Kenya the same way we do in Spain , France and anywhere else. You do not have that strict policies here in Kenya on how to process the data, but we still follow them because we want to be GDPR compliant.
She listed low digital penetration which she put at approximately 40 percent and lack of devices such as laptops and smartphones for users as some of the main market challenges that the Opera is facing in Kenya.
Sycheva appealed to Kenyans to reach out to the company which she says is open to any kind of feedback and collaborations.
