BRANDON.T.BANDE // ROGUE0015

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WTF is Econet doing?

· 5 MIN READ · ·

  • ai
  • zimbabwe
  • leadership

Hi,

I'm Brandon, and I swear I have no beef with Econet.

Zimbabwe's biggest tech company is what? On their latest platform here, brokering AI tokens for airtime and pennies? What? Absolutely fantastic. Makes me wonder what the business development division is up to. I have to put a disclaimer. In the AI space, we can't call it a race when no one else is competing. So let's just call it space. I do not really hate on Econet ffs, hell naw. You see, their size and history are quite interesting, yet their approach is even more interesting.

Misunderstood Concepts at play.

Before you scream that Econet is focusing on bridging access to the underserved communities, please stop. Please. Who exactly is the underserved? And how are they accessing it? Via their phones and machines? Oh, paying using what? Airtime or money? Interesting. Really interesting. Anyway, Brandon, stop picking on Econet. How can I, when they make themselves an easy target? I am not really a sucker for low hanging fruit, but this time I will bite.

As much as we talk about bundling this, introducing affordable bundles for those who can't pay much for access to AI services, the concept still doesn't make sense. I have travelled to places where infrastructure lacks and the people do not have an idea of how to access the internet. If we are genuinely talking about bringing AI to the people, we would appreciate expanding the coverage to those areas. If we are talking about affordability, don't all major AI companies offer free daily trials? And by the way, kudos on the Gemini program.

Considering their scale, and the existence of open-weight models - with tooling and stuff. To those who are not technical: this is where you have a free AI that you can link to different stuff so that it can do stuff like search the internet for answers and stuff. Now, the problem with that is that it takes a lot of computing power to host, but once done, you have an AI you can run for free. Then the cost of access can be subsidised among many users to create an AI that is nearly free. That is what I would have expected when I heard about Eco AI tokens. But no. Airtime for AI. Ecocash for AI. Anyone??

Infrastructure inga wani?

Then the other issue that I got is this. Econet has a distribution network that surpasses any company in Zimbabwe. I mean, in places where no bread truck or no bank exists, I have come across Ecocash agents. Their network reach is unmatchable (I hate to admit that). I once wrote a similar thing about Meta. Distribution network. Consumer base and reach. Key differentiators that keep the two companies in play in the AI revolution. Meta is doing something meaningful. Econet? Airtime for AI. Ecocash for AI. Anyone??

Maybe I am delusional. But remember when Econet made specialised bundles for different social media applications? Unlimited access, and for given periods. Imagine something similar, but for AI apps. I mean maybe the major ones for consumers. Think about it. Would someone pay to access Gemini or ChatGPT for a week? Or a day? If I were a student - Zimbabwe's population is dominantly youth - I would pay so that I get help with my studies. And then the therapy that comes with chatbots as companions (Oh, just admit it, at one time you also used a chatbot as a confidant). Specialised bundles for this would sell faster than hot pancakes. For students. For mundane daily tasks. Etc. But then nope. Let's buy tokens to apps that offer them for free.

Pressure to perform

On paper these initiatives make sense. At least there is motion. Not movement. Motion. An acknowledgement that something has to happen. The ability to recognise an available moat. But, if we are going to be honest, the lack of imagination, not innovation, leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, the word innovation is thrown around so much that it has grossly inflated. I always laughed at Meta's efforts. Giggled at Google's products (I was there when all they had was Bard and maaan it was baaaad). But this is a new low. Every few months, a few AI produced interfaces with an idea that, even if you put it to AI, it might question the line of thinking.

As I wrap this up. Given the talent, the size and the reputation of Econet, there is a lot that they could possibly do to position themselves as a regional AI giant. As either a contributor or a distributor. Right now they are not showing a fraction of that. And considering that they are the pinnacle of innovation since the early 2000s, the tech scene might be doomed. I know it's not my place, but it is my hope that they help set the standard - as they have previously done.

Let's connect via the following platforms: LinkedIn, on X as @Rogue0015, or check the Sessionize speaker profile if you want this signal live on your stage. And if you're new here, start with the talks — this blog is their echo.