Simplifyd Systems Inc., a Y Combinator-backed Nigerian startup has launched ZeroData, a toll-free internet application platform to increase internet access across Africa.
ZeroData intends to address the difficulties of obtaining affordable data in light of the soaring rate of data use, particularly among mobile and web app users in emerging economies throughout Africa.
The firm, which was founded by Tomi Amao, Mayowa Amao, Sam Keiru, and Abiola Fajimi in 2020, aims to become Africa’s go-to platform for data-free Internet access.
The company was founded with a strong desire to address Africa’s troubling data affordability problem, as well as a desire to promote greater digital inclusion across the continent.
“ZeroData is designed to cater to both users with active data plans and those with none. For users with an active data plan, their data plan isn’t consumed when they make use of the application.
“Our app also enables users with no active data plans to enjoy uninterrupted access to the Internet apps listed on the platform,” Said Tomi Amao, CEO of Simplifyd.
Research says Africans pay the highest rate for mobile internet in the world proportional to income.
In Africa, smartphone penetration is currently at 50%, and the number of internet users is continuously increasing.
For the continent’s expanding number of Internet users, ZeroData is developing an easy platform to access the Internet while avoiding the difficulty of large data usage.
Users will simply need to download the ZeroData app, which is accessible for both mobile (Android) and desktop (Windows) (macOS and Windows).
Businesses can also bundle data with their apps on the ZeroData platform to make them more accessible and data-free for those who need it most.
Data consumption is becoming more of a problem in Nigeria. According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, data usage increased by 202.08 percent in three years (2018, 2019, and 2020), despite rising data usage across Africa.