Social entrepreneurship in Angola in the telecommunication sector : how can a company maximize its social impact while remaining profitable ? : the case study of Telo, an Angolan social enterprise in the sector of telecomunication

Abstract

This paper analyses the strategy of an Angolan social enterprise that provides mobile payphone services in Angola. The payphone business has dramatically accelerated the diffusion of telecommunication services in Angola. Since 2005, the Telo company has enabled several thousands of micro-entrepreneurs to get a share of the fast-growing telecommunication sector. Telo know wishes to pursue its social objectives by helping more disadvantaged people to start their own business. However, in a highly competitive industry, Telo needs to adjust its strategy and adapt to the evolutions of the market in order to remain profitable, in particular in the context of fiercer competition with mobile phone operators. This paper shows that a company can also make profits by pursuing social objectives if it adapts to the specific needs of its clients and to the specificities of the environment. The payphone market is far from being saturated in Angola but Telo needs to define a solid sales strategy so that its social objectives can be sustainable on the long term.