Monetizing Data from

Devices in Africa
Thompson Reuters Project
November 20, 2014

Executive Summary
In this report our team has explored the
opportunity to collect the location data
created by the cell phones used in Africa in
order to ascertain the migration patterns of
residents and visitors. These patterns are
crucial for understanding the propagation
of infectious diseases in Africa such as
malaria.
People migration data coupled with the
infection statistics represents a very useful
dataset for any healthcare entity because it
can be used for optimal vaccination
deployment and medical resource
allocation.

Relevance to Thomson Reuters

International reputation as world's most trusted news organization
Consistent with Thomson Reuters plans to enhance its data integration and
analytics capabilities
July 2013

BioWorld acquired by Thomson

Reuters

Nov 2013

Entagen acquired by Thomson

Reuters

Feb 2014

Thomson Reuters announces

Cortellis Data Fusion

Consumer trends, market size

African markets:

Huge growth on the mobile market, feature phone still dominate over the next few years.
Most popular data services are instant and Email messages

Booming Consumer Trends

Mobile Money
Mobile Advertising
Development of voice-based web access
Messaging Services (Through two-way use of mobile phones)
Africa, smartphone connection forecasts
2012 - 2018 (mill.)
1400
1200
1000
800

742

839

931

1012

1086

1152

600
400
200

79

112

154

204

264

334

1213

412

0
2012
Mobile

2013

2014

Smartphone

2015

2016

2017

2018

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

Service
Video Streaming
Video downloads
Music Streaming
Music Downloads
App Downloads
Games Online
Games Downloads
Location-based Services
Browsing
VoIP
E-commerce
Instant Messaging
Social Networking
Email Messages
E-publication

Events per week Nigeria

Hours
0.8
Downloads
3
Hours
0.8
Downloads
3
Downloads
3
Hours
1.5
Downloads
2
Hours
0.8
Hours
2.5
Hours
1.5
Transactions
3
Messages
30
Hours
2.5
Messages
25
Downloads
2

South
Africa
0.8
2
0.8
3
2
1.5
2
0.3
1.5
0.8
3
150
2.5
25
1

Monetization
African markets:

Information on medicine
consumption is not systematically
collected fragmented data
$30 Billion opportunity by 2016
IMS Health

TR Provides:

Information in regards to
prescription drugs moved
throughout Africa
Customers:
Biomedical
Pharmaceuticals

Over $2 billion is generated

from selling data
Legal / Compliance
Information to ease market
entry and remain in
compliance with regulation

What kind of data should TR collect?

Cell Phone Triangulation

Population density
Travel Patterns
User Velocity

SMS and Mobile

Payment Data

Why not roll-out new devices?

1.1 billion people in 2013
80% market penetration
Average cost to manufacture smartphones
is $200
Average cost to manufacture higher quality
smartphones
is $240
Doesnt include R&D, time to market or labor
Bottom line:
Too costly and doesnt make sense.

Potential challenges / risks

Privacy concerns
National security requirements over screening of cell phone data
Real-time access to cell phone data is restricted by government
privacy rules and paperwork
Controversial outcries over invasive surveillance

Relevance to Thomson Reuters

International reputation as world's most trusted news organization
Consistent with Thomson Reuters plans to enhance its data integration and
analytics capabilities
July 2013

BioWorld acquired by Thomson

Reuters

Nov 2013

Entagen acquired by Thomson

Reuters

Feb 2014

Thomson Reuters announces

Cortellis Data Fusion

Stakeholders

stakeholders will provide / consume needed

info seamlessly and more securely

Prescription drug Information

Intermediaries

Doctors Caregivers Patients - Insurers