There is a high demand for quality media in Africa but in many places network infrastructure cannot keep up. A positive aspect of this technological disparity is that it promotes the development of alternative services, which provide access to media by getting around network deficiencies. Launched in January 2012, Tuluntulu (which means stream in Zulu) opens the floodgates to a reservoir of uninterrupted television streams on mobile devices– even in locations with low-bandwidth networks.

Now DW’s flagship English channel will be included Tuluntulu catalogue. This new partnership will bring world-class programming and information to a hard-to-reach audience. With partners on board like DW, no one has to miss out on quality content because of technological deficiencies.

Tuluntulu works by using Adaptive Real-time Internet Streaming Technology (ARTIST), which allows content to stream at low data consumption levels. The service was developed specifically as a platform for the technology. The company claims that ARTIST technology can provide unbroken streaming video at the low broadband speed of 30kbps adding that no other service can provide video under 100 kbps. With its wide-selection of networks, Tuluntulu is truly a breakthrough for mobile media in Africa. The service is free to download right now for iOS or Android devices.

This is only the beginning of developing these technologies and DW is an integtral part of what makes them so important in providing information to those who need it in a place they couldn’t find it before.

Digital and mobile technology is changing the world but some effects may be less obvious than what you see every day. A selection of talks and presentations from niche companies to big telecoms will cover some innovative trends and techniques at the 2014 Global Media Forum.

A presentation hosted by big-data experts, Flowminder, and the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), focuses on how collecting and analyzing mobile data can be used in determining the extent and real effects of mass displacement following major environmental catastrophes. The presentation titled Big data, big insights: Mapping climate-induced displacement with mobile data, takes a unique look at how mobile data can be used to get accurate assessments of where people go, if they return and if proper aid is being provided to affected areas. The group will present the results of data analysis from five million anonymous cell phone users in the wake of Cyclone Mahasen that struck Bangladesh in May 2013.

Also exploring the effects of mobile technology on society and social development is a discussion hosted by the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communication titled, M-powering society: How mobile technology is changing society. The panel will discuss how mobile technology is being applied to create mobile health, mobile education and mobile government, emphasizing what makes mobile solutions more effective and the positive impact of mobile technology in developing areas of the world.

A talk hosted by the Grimme Institut will cover how digital technology is changing the way people express themselves and share narratives. The session titled See YOU in the future – new ways of digital storytelling, looks at how digital technology has given everyone a voice and has broken down social and cultural barriers. The discussion will explore future tools and platforms and introduce how digital stories are used in different areas of society.

In the final installment next week before the Global Media Forum begins, we will highlight some events covering the main issue at the conference – how digital technology is enabling increased participation in media and governance.

Deutsche Welle (DW) is making its Learning by Ear service even more accessible to listeners in Afghanistan by providing content to mobiles with partner Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC). With more than 17 million mobile phone owners in Afghanistan, the cooperation with AWCC will help to expand the reach of DW’s hit educational program.

“This new service appeals to a younger, more mobile target audience,” says Anne Hufnagel, Head of Distribution for Asia at DW. “We expect and are looking forward to a significant increase in the number of listeners.”

Mobile users in Afghanistan just have to dial 1020 which will take them to an audio menu. They will then have the choice to listen to the Learning by Ear episodes in either Dari or Pashto on-demand. The service is free of charge and currently offers 10 episodes of “Becoming Afghanistan’s Superstar”, a program that showcases the extraordinary story about a young girl who struggles to participate in Afghanistan’s song contest.

Learning by Ear has been broadcast with support from the German Federal Foreign Office in Afghanistan since 2009. With partners like Ariana Radio and Radio Nawa, the series has become popular for young adults and teens. The new Learning by Ear mobile service will be promoted through a text message campaign, print ads and daily spots on television and radio.

DW is using over-the-phone voice technology to deliver news. No Internet access necessary, customers just need to dial a number to access Learing by Ear content. The series covers everything from health and hygiene to politics, the economy, the environment and social issues.

Also, if you are interested in learning more about who we work with locally, check out this article from All Africa. And here is another interview with Tanzania’s Daily News about the Learning by Ear program.

The DW News Portal offers live streams in German, English, Russian and several Asian languages as well as background information and current news from politics, business, science, German Bundesliga, culture and lifestyle. The App is also available for Android devices.

Find out more about all of DW’s online and mobile services.