![](\"https:\/\/tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/05\/opera-africa.jpeg?w=738\")
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Opera, the Norwegian browser-maker\u00a0that was sold to a Chinese consortium<\/a> last year, is doubling down on the African market after it announced plans to invest $100 million\u00a0to grow\u00a0its business in the emerging region.<\/p>\n The company\u00a0is well known for its reach in emerging markets, and Africa in particular where it recently reached 100 million users<\/a>. This $100 million budget is principally for the business in its three strongest African markets \u2014 South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya \u2014\u00a0where it plans to strengthen its product, grow its ecosystem of partners and bring more users aboard. Further down the line, it could apply the same approach to other countries in the region.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are definitely interested in more markets,\u201d\u00a0Jan Standal, head of global marketing and communications, told TechCrunch in an interview. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing preventing us from initiating an extension at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n Standal, who said the budget is expected to last for \u201cthe next couple of years,\u201d explained that Opera\u2019s marketshare in the three chosen countries is between 40 and 60 percent and, with that base, it is looking to make a major push into content.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re stepping up [because] the purpose of the browser is evolving,\u201d he said. \u201cParticularly\u00a0around news publishing, the browser is one of the main gateways to consumption. If you want to reach people [in African countries] you have to work with web browsers\u2026 and we\u2019re\u00a0changing our role from being a browser to content aggregator.\u201d<\/p>\n Opera has long put a focus on media with its web browsers \u2014 both mobile and desktop \u2014 but earlier this year it revealed that\u00a0Chinese parent company Kunlun Tech\u00a0had developed a team to bring AI to the core of its services. News and content distribution\u00a0is high on the order for its AI tech, which will be increase the personalization of news that the company\u2019s browser surfaces for users. In Africa, the company said it wants deliver \u201cpersonalized and localized content\u201d to users.<\/p>\n Beyond working with content producers \u2014\u00a0Standal stressed a\u00a0focus on \u201cpremium content\u201d \u2014 Opera plans to ramp up its work with OEMs and operators to bring more users on to its platform, and double down on its data optimization technology to help offset the comparatively expensive cost of data in Africa. It also began running TV ads in Africa to raise awareness of the service, and what users can do\u00a0besides\u00a0just browsing\u00a0the web.<\/p>\n Beyond those established gatekeepers, Opera has its eye on startups that fit\u00a0with its mission of growing digital audiences in Africa. Standal\u00a0hinted that technology around payments is one area of interest, but he declined to provide specific details around plans for investments or acquisitions.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the direction we\u2019re interested in but we don\u2019t have any announcements at this point,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Opera is already working on widening its content reach in Africa \u2014 it initially began on general news\u00a0and sports\u00a0\u2014 and it has adopted a similar approach in other parts of the world. In India, for instance, it introduced Cricket alerts<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n While Opera has given any targets for its $100 million investment in Africa, Standal\u00a0said the company \u201cexpects to see good growth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0going after this investment plan because we have a very strong position in Africa,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe want to\u00a0continue to grow the internet base.\u201d<\/p>\n Operationally, it has an office in South Africa already and is in the process of opening similar bases in both Kenya and Nigeria in line with this push. The company said it plans to\u00a0hire 100 people across its workforce in all three countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/05\/opera-africa.jpeg?w=680\")
Opera, the Norwegian browser-maker\u00a0that was sold to a Chinese consortium last year, is doubling down on the African market after it announced plans to invest $100 million\u00a0to grow\u00a0its business in the emerging region. The company\u00a0is well known for its reach in emerging markets, and Africa in particular where it recently reached 100 million users. This $100 million budget is principally for… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/img><\/a>
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