Deutsche Welle’s “Learning by Ear” educational program is now more accessible in Africa’s sub-Sahara region.
Thanks to interactive voice response (IVR) technology, it is possible hear the program, which focuses on the challenges that young Africans face, via mobile phones with no need to download the content. The new services, says DW, allows users to call a local number and hear specific episodes of the show on demand, or choose to have the content delivered via SMS or email.
“The main goal behind the project is to make ‘Learning by Ear’ accessible for people with any type of cellular phone, regardless of its age, model, operating system or carrier. No Internet connection is necessary,” said Naser Shrouf, DW’s head of distribution for Africa and the Middle East.
Network partners involved in providing the service include MTN Ghana, Vodacom Tanzania, Airtel Niger and Airtel Nigeria. It will also soon be launched in Rwanda and Liberia.