--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mobile phones could not work in Africa…" description: "\"Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.\" — Mo Ibrahim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg" --- # Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid… ![“Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.” quote by Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg) > “Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.” [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prepaid mobile plans thrive in cash‑based economies where credit is scarce. **In simple terms:** Prepaid works where cash dominates. Key Takeaway Design services for cash‑centric markets. Themes economics technology finance access inclusion Mood analytical practical Type explanatory informative When to use this quote - rural outreach - financial inclusion - market entry strategies Key Concepts mobile money cash economy telecom policy Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist for credit‑based services? - How does prepaid affect user behavior? A Different Perspective Limited banking infrastructure hampers credit options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africa Prepaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-prepaid-5839307/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Mobile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobile/) [Mobile Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobile-phone/) [Mobile phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobile-phones/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Phones Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones-work-653895/) [Prepaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepaid-2232900/) [Prepaid Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepaid-cash-5839308/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Mobile phones play a really wonderful role in enabling civil society. As well as empowering people economically and socially, they are a wonderful political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/mobile-phones-play-a-really-wonderful-role-in-enabling-civil-society/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Celtel established a mobile phone network in Africa at a time when investors told me that there was no market for mobile phones there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/celtel-established-a-mobile-phone-network-in-africa-at-a-time-when/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Equipped with two cell phones - one for work and another for home - I like to think of myself as a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/equipped-with-two-cell-phones-one-for-work-and-another-for-home-i/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [“Cricket prepaid/pay as you go. 10$ 25$ 50$ Get the 10$ we ll just keep it short and really sweet this week.walmart has them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hugga/cricket-prepaid-pay-as-you-go-10-25-50-get-the-10-we-ll-just-keep-it/) [Anita hugga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hugga/) > [“In life nothing is ever for sure...so always be prepaid for the worst and always hope for the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/in-life-nothing-is-ever-for-sure-so-always-be-prepaid-for-the-worst/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Compared to Uber, we have a much local business model. We allow the customers to pay in cash as well as use our prepaid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavish-aggarwal/compared-to-uber-we-have-a-much-local-business-model-we-allow-the/) [Bhavish Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavish-aggarwal/) > [Think Abot It... Everybody Wish To Go Back & Repair Their Past, Which Is Imposible But, Nobody Is Prepaid To Construct Their Future, Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/think-abot-it-everybody-wish-to-go-back-repair-their-past-which-is/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I used to go out wearing any old rubbish, no make-up, nothing, but since mobile phones, that has all had to stop. People do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-used-to-go-out-wearing-any-old-rubbish-no-make-up-nothing-but-since/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) > [In Africa it's difficult to carry the money, it's difficult to have a banking system with tellers, with distribution of cash. So they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-levy/in-africa-it-s-difficult-to-carry-the-money-it-s-difficult-to-have-a/) [Maurice Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-levy/) > [Have I got a black book? Yes, it's called a mobile phone. I do get offers. There is no shortage of people if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/have-i-got-a-black-book-yes-it-s-called-a-mobile-phone-i-do-get/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [Sending a message on a mobile phone is not the most natural of ways to communicate. The keypad isn't linguistically sensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/sending-a-message-on-a-mobile-phone-is-not-the-most-natural-of-ways/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [I don't have a Facebook page. I don't use Twitter. I don't give anyone a lot to grab onto. Sometimes, I even take out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-don-t-have-a-facebook-page-i-don-t-use-twitter-i-don-t-give-anyone/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Outside the classroom, the use of mobile phones distracts from healthy exercise and good old-fashioned play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/outside-the-classroom-the-use-of-mobile-phones-distracts-from-healthy/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [Many students don't really like it (fashion). If they don't like it, they won't be able to tell you who the stylists are or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/many-students-don-t-really-like-it-fashion-if-they-don-t-like-it-they/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greatest-spy-on-the-planet/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) ## More by Mo Ibrahim > [Experience counts in government even more than in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/experience-counts-in-government-even-more-than-in-business/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [It's time Africa started listening to our young people instead of always telling them what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/it-s-time-africa-started-listening-to-our-young-people-instead-of/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Remarkably, governments are beginning to embrace the idea that nothing enhances democracy more than giving voice and information to everybody in the country. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/remarkably-governments-are-beginning-to-embrace-the-idea-that-nothing/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-economic-progress-is-not-translated-into-better-quality-of-life/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-is-progressing-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think-it-is-even/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [People never confess to failure. They should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/people-never-confess-to-failure-they-should/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-has-been-at-the-heart-of-the-work-of-the-oxford-martin/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [There's no point in trying to hoard money after life, so better really to share with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/there-s-no-point-in-trying-to-hoard-money-after-life-so-better-really/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [I need to be free, to speak the unspeakable. You can't do that in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-need-to-be-free-to-speak-the-unspeakable-you-can-t-do-that-in-office/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [If we cannot accurately measure poverty, we surely cannot accurately measure our efforts to tackle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-we-cannot-accurately-measure-poverty-we-surely-cannot-accurately/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Business is global. Countries need to react to that; taxes need to be paid where profit arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/business-is-global-countries-need-to-react-to-that-taxes-need-to-be/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [I don't subscribe to the narrative that Africa is backward because of colonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-don-t-subscribe-to-the-narrative-that-africa-is-backward-because-of/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Africa offers the highest return on investment in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-offers-the-highest-return-on-investment-in-the-world/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Governance is everything. Without governance we have nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-is-everything-without-governance-we-have-nothing/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [When you ask people what they think of Africa, they think of AIDS, genocide, disasters, famine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/when-you-ask-people-what-they-think-of-africa-they-think-of-aids/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) [Explore all 133 Mo Ibrahim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mo Ibrahim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-without-prepaid-because-it-s-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Africa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-without-prepaid-because-it-s-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/mo-ibrahim-3354_africa_mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-w_2371046.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.” — Mo Ibrahim", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mo Ibrahim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mobile phones could not work in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-without-prepaid-because-it-s-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/mobile-phones-could-not-work-in-africa-without-prepaid-because-it-s-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```