Publications
Publications
- June 2002 (Revised August 2002)
- HBS Case Collection
WorldSpace: Digital Radio for the Developing World
By: Debora L. Spar
Abstract
Describes the evolution of WorldSpace, the world's first major provider of digital radio service to the developing world. The brainchild of Noah Samara, an African-born, American-trained lawyer, WorldSpace has a dual commercial and social mission. Samara wants to address the problem of development by bringing "information affluence" to the people of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Specifically, he wants to provide high-quality news, entertainment, and education content transmitted through a low-cost digital radio system. In less than a decade, Samara has achieved a great deal: He has raised over $1 billion for the project, acquired the rights to a vast swath of the world's digital radio spectrum, and launched two proprietary satellites. The question now is, Can he combine his social objectives with a for-profit mission? And will the people of Africa, Asia, and Latin America want what WorldSpace is selling?
Keywords
Information; Social Entrepreneurship; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Developing Countries and Economies; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Asia; Latin America; Africa
Citation
Spar, Debora L., Allison Morhaim, and Bharesh Patel. "WorldSpace: Digital Radio for the Developing World." Harvard Business School Case 702-034, June 2002. (Revised August 2002.)