The Impact of the Introduction of Electronic Communication in Ethiopia: A Survey

by Abebe Rorrisa

1st ESS Conference on Ethiopian Telecommunications in the Information Age, Washington, DC, July 2nd, 1996

Electronic communications, more specifically electronic mail services were introduced in Ethiopia by the Pan African Development Information System (PADIS), with the establishment of a network called PADISnet. In 1995, a survey was made to investigate the impact of these services. Some impact indicators were identified and they show that the overall impact was positive.

Introduction

Introduction of Electronic Communication in Ethiopia

Electronic communication (computer-mediated communication for sending and/or receiving messages/mail via the telephone line) is a recent development in Africa. As usual, the initiative to introduce electronic communication technology and services was that of a foreign donor agency, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. IDRC funded such projects as "Computer Networking in Africa" and "Capacity Building for Electronic Communication in Africa(CABECA)" which improved the infrastructure and capacity of various organizations and Academic institutions in Africa in terms of hardware and software for electronic connectivity (Hafkin & Menou 1995).

The Pan African Development Information System(PADIS) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA) implemented both the IDRC initiated projects. PADISnet (the only electronic mail node in Ethiopia serving the majority of E-mail and electronic Bulletin Board Service(BBS) users in the country) and other similar Fido-based nodes throughout Africa were established as a result of the implementation of the two projects.

The Objective of the Survey

As part of the IDRC initiated Impact Study being undertaken in various countries and focusing on different aspects of impact, the main objective of this survey was to "contribute to the development of indicators for the measurement of the impact of information and to assess the impact of electronic communications(telematics) on development in Africa" (Hafkin & Menou 1995, p.72).

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Methods Used for Data Collection

A list of 222 entry points(an entry point has a unique point number) registered with the PADISnet and active(no breakdown reported) during the month of October 1994 was obtained from the PADISnet system operator (SysOp). In consultation with the SysOp, the entry points were then stratified into five(5) groups of organizations, namely Private/Individual, Academic & research, International, Governmental, and Non-governmental.

Further stratification based on the traffic data (the number of messages sent and received at the entry points) for January and February 1995 was done to form the Low (0-30 messages), Medium (31-60 messages), High(61-122 messages) and Very High (>122 messages) levels of use group. After the entry points being used by users outside the country were excluded, the number of active entry points during January & February 1995 decreased to 206 and their distribution is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Distribution of Entry Points of the PADISnet

^'It is not 100% since most of the percentages were rounded off.

A random sample of 50 entry points, distributed proportionally across the organization types and levels of use, were selected to be interviewed. However users of only 22 points were actually interviewed.

A baseline questionnaire, designed at the first start-up workshop of the Impact Study held in February 1995 in Addis Ababa was pre-tested with participants of the April 1995 Regional Symposium on Telematics for Development in Africa, held at UNECA in Addis Ababa. It was later distributed to all users of the entry points of the PADISnet via E-mail. Respondents were asked to respond either through E-mail or post the filled out questionnaires to PADIS. Among the respondents to the baseline questionnaires, 22 were interviewed.

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Analysis and Interpretation of Results

Table 2: Number of Completed Questionnaires Returned

^'In most of the subsequent analyses and discussions, either 84 or 83 of them were use-able

Table 2 above shows the distribution of individual respondents across the organizations and levels of use. Users affiliated to Academic and Research institutions and users from the low level of use group were the majority of the respondents.

Female respondents were very few (14.1%) compared to male respondents (85.9%). Respondents from academic & research organizations are also the majority (58.7%) of the local users while 74.4% of the expatriate respondents were private/individual users and users from International organizations. Out of the 39 expatriate respondents, a little more than three fourth were temporary residents (i.e. less than 5 years)

Almost all the respondents (97.6%) are holders of BA/B.Sc. degree or above. On the average, the higher the qualification the greater the number of respondents with more than a third of them being Ph.D./MD holders.

Table 3: Computer Skills of the Respondents

Qualification and computer skill of the respondents do not seem to be well correlated for experienced computer users though they do for those who rated their computer skills as intermediate. Only 3.6% of the respondents are beginners while the rest 96.4% are intermediate and experienced computer users, the majority of them (56%) being experienced computer users.

Table 4: Communication Facilities in the Respondents' Organizations

According to Table 4, the principal communication facilities in the respondents' organizations are telephone and fax. However, telex and radio are also available in quite a considerable number of organizations, though they are more available to private/individual respondents and in International and Non-governmental organizations.

As far as essentially of communicating outside the Country is concerned, almost all of them(96.4%) indicated that it is essential with only 3.6% saying it is sometimes important. This is reflected in the percentages of the messages sent by the respondents destined outside the country (Table 13).

Table 5: Adequacy of Information Facilities at the Respondents' Organizations

Most respondents (87.1%) from academic & research institutions, who heavily rely on libraries and information centers for their day to day activities indicated that information facilities at their institutions are inadequate. Their opinion conforms with the usual criticism about the inadequacy, in terms of quality as well as quantity of information, of academic and research libraries in the country.

Table 6: Frequency of E-mail Usage: Home vs. Office

Tables 6 above and 7 below show that home computers in general and E-mail facilities at home in particular are not common among the respondents and that is why three fourth of them indicated that they send/receive electronic messages only from their offices. Even most of the private/individual users (62.5%) send/receive electronic messages from their offices.

Table 7: From Where Respondents Send/Receive Electronic Messages

Table 8: Earlier E-mail Use and Current Use of Other Networks

Out of the 25 respondents who indicated that they have used E-mail before, 9 (36%) used for one year and less, 3 (12%) used for between one and three years, and the remaining 13 (52%) indicated to have used for three and more years. All of them were holders of a BA/B.Sc. degrees or above, which means it is likely that they were educated either in Europe or USA (where E-mail services were in existence for a long time), where they had access to electronic mail facilities in the institutions they attended. The networks, other than PADISnet, which are currently being used by the 14 respondents(Table 8) are HealthNet, UN CC-Mail, CGNet and CareNet.

Table 9: Earlier E-mail Use and Current Use of Other Networks

Most of the respondents (78.6%) indicated that electronic mail cost is covered by either their department or organization. Only 15.5% of the respondents cover the cost for themselves, among which 8(61.5%) are private/individual users.

According to Table 10, more than three fourth of the respondents send an average of one message per working day (Monday - Friday). Most(74.4%) of the respondents who indicated that they login and type their messages are experienced computer users and those with intermediate computer skills. Similarly, the frequency with which respondents send electronic messages drops with their computer skills. Generally, Tables 10 and 11 below show us that mode and frequency of sending electronic messages depend on the computer skills of the users.

Table 10: Computer Skills vs. Frequency of Usage

Table 11: What for and How Frequent Respondents were Using E-mail

Even though electronic mail was heavily used(by many respondents) for sending/receiving personal messages (Table 11), it was less frequently used for the same purpose and most frequently used for regular business. Among the purposes for which E-mail was heavily used for are regular business, providing/receiving technical advise and exchange of documents. It was least used for computer conferences.

Table 12: Other Channels used by Respondents and Frequency of Usage

According to Table 12, telephone is the most frequently used communication channel by the respondents while air mail was the most heavily used channel. Fax, travel for document delivery and surface mail are the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th most used channels of communication.

Table 13: Percentage of Electronic Messages Sent Outside Africa, Within Africa and Within the Country

About 87.9% respondents indicated that more than 50% of their messages are destined outside Africa while almost three fourth(72.5%) and 82.1% said that less than 10% of their messages were destined within Africa but outside the country and within the country, respectively. This may lead us to conclude that communication among the PADISnet users is insignificant and electronic communication was mainly used for communicating outside the country.

Table 14: Improvements Brought in the Respondents' Work by the Use of Electronic Communications

There is no marked difference among the respondents across the organizations in the improvements brought in their work by electronic communications. What is more, 'Increased Speed & Efficiency and Decreased Cost of Communication' was rated by all groups as the significant improvement. Decreased cost of electronic communication has been well demonstrated by Lishan(1993) who estimated the E-mail - Fax cost ratio between Addis Ababa and London as 1:6, on the average. That is the same size of document will cost about 6 times higher when transmitted via fax than via E-mail.

Table 15: Difficulties Brought in the Respondents' Work by the Use of Electronic Communications

Very few respondents listed difficulties brought in their work by electronic communication. The top most difficulty is 'Delayed/Undelivered Messages' which led to resending/receiving the messages via other alternative channels of communication such as Fax.

Table 16: Constraints to the Respondents for Making Effective Use of Electronic Communications

Respondents seem to have realized the potential of full Internet connection for overcoming the current problems associated with the current store-and-forward E-mail system. That is why they have rated 'Lack of Direct Access to the Internet' as the first major constraint and 'User Un-friendliness and limited features of the E-mail Software (Frontdoor)' as the third major constraint for making effective use of electronic communications. Not successful file attachment facility, Non-networkability, limited length of recipient's address, unavailability of a facility for confirmation of receipt of the message at the other end are among the limitations of the software mentioned.

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Results of the Interviews

The purpose of the interviews was to solicit information regarding communication related problems/difficulties faced by users of PADISnet, their causes, effects and measures taken to solve them before and after they had access to electronic communication. Results are summarized below.

Before the interviewees had access to electronic communications:

• The nature of their difficulties/problems were: Slow/infrequent communication/postal system led to inability to meeting deadlines and heard about things too late(45.5%); Lack of or limited access to information(27.3%); Communication outside the country was expensive(18.2%); Lack of access to communication channels such as telephone and fax(4.5%); Shortage of funds(4.5%).

• The causes of their difficulties/problems were: Lack of economical and efficient communication mechanism/system(40.9%); Slow postal/communication system(27.3%); Lack of information or access to it(18.2%); Shortage of funds(9.1%).

• Effects of the difficulties/problems: All of them indicated that 'Incomplete/delayed research/work/service, inefficiency and poor decisions' was the effect of the difficulties/problems.

• Possible solutions to the difficulties/problems were: Electronic communications and other economical & efficient means of communication(54.5%); Rely upon resources/information/data at hand(13.6%); allocate sufficient fund(4.5%).

• What would have the solutions changed(each of them were rated equally by 45.5% of the respondents): Completed research/work and better service; Improved and timely communication.

After they had access to electronic communications:

• Nature of difficulty were: The same difficulties/problems that existed before they had access still exist (partially or totally)(27.3%); No serious problem/difficulty exist(18.2%); Could not go through to the mail server at PADIS easily(4.5%).

• The causes of their difficulties/problems were: Limitations in the PADISnet (e.g. single mail server)(40.9%); The same causes as those existed before they had access(13.6%); Lack of time(9.1%); I don't know(4.5%); Bad telephone lines(4.5%).

• Effects of their difficulties/problems: Almost all of them indicated that the difficulties had the same effects as those before they had access to electronic communications with only one respondent indicating that sometimes messages were not delivered in time.

• Possible solutions of the difficulties/problems: Upgrade the software (Frontdoor) and increase the capacity/number of the mail servers(27.3%); Improved communications channels(e.g. telephone lines)(18.2%); Use other alternative communications media(9.1%).

Comparing the two situations:

• What has improved: Speed and efficiency of communication(45.5%); Access to information(40.9%); Personal communication(9.1%); nothing(4.5%).

• What has deteriorated: All respondents said nothing has deteriorated except one respondent who indicated that the frequency with which to connect to the PADISnet server has deteriorated due to the large number of users.

• What is unchanged: In response to the question, most of them (59.5%) said nothing was unchanged; 9.1% said hardware/software situation and 4.5% indicated lack of information as being the same.

• New difficulties arose: All of them cited no difficulties except two who said now they are conscious of not having direct access to the Internet.

• The two questions, 'In which way is your organization performing better?' and 'In which way are you yourself performing better?' were left unanswered since most of the respondents said that they have not yet noticed or been able to measure it. However, some said: I have more contacts now than before (13.6%), and the organization's and my access to information has improved(9.1%).

• Almost three fourth of the respondents (72.7%) indicated that the overall change is positive. When asked what is required to make the change continued, they said: Provide full Internet access or improve and expand the existing E-mail system(54.5%); Support from government and other donor agencies(9.1%).

Lessons Learned

Very few pronounced specific success and/or failure stories. The only failure stories before they had access to electronic communications mentioned are:

• Documents for a library were delayed and the graduate student who requested them has already graduated when they arrived. The reason was that follow up was very slow.

• Slow responses led to missed opportunities.

Success stories after they had access to electronic communications:

• Was able to send notices, documents, requests and follow up messages any time and any day of the week.

• Was able to frequently communicate with project sponsors/colleagues outside the country and met deadlines.
  

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions

Analysis and interpretation of the responses to the baseline questionnaire and interview led to the following conclusions.

1. Telephone and fax are the principal communication facilities in the respondents' organizations while telex and radio are available to private/individual respondents and in International and Non-governmental organizations.
2. Information facilities in most of the organizations are inadequate and most respondents (87.1%) from academic & research institutions indicated so.
3. Home computers and E-mail facilities at home are not common among the respondents which strengthen the fact that home computers are almost non-existent in Africa in general and in Ethiopia in particular. Perhaps that is why three fourth of the respondents indicated that they send/receive electronic messages only from their offices. Even most of the private/individual users (62.5%) send/receive electronic messages from their offices.
4. The most common method of sending electronic messages among the respondents is logging in and typing the message which could be attributed to the fact that most of the users are computer literate who rated their computer skills as experienced and intermediate.
5. Among the respondents, only 29.4% indicated to have used E-mail before and a mere 16.5% said that they are using networks, other than PADISnet, such as HealthNet (which has very few users), UN CC-Mail, CGNet and CareNet(?), which are used only by International organizations and foreign NGO's).
6. The frequency and mode of sending electronic mail were found to be dependent on the computer skills of the respondents. Those with better computer skills login and type their messages as well as send messages frequently.
7. In general, electronic mail was frequently and heavily used for regular business, providing/receiving technical advise and exchange of documents.
8. Among the communication channels, telephone is the most frequently used and air mail is the heavily used channel(used by the majority of the respondents).
9. Respondents were mainly using electronic mail for communicating outside Africa than within the continent since very few of the respondents' messages were destined within Africa and the country.
10. There are much more improvements brought in the work of the respondents' organizations by electronic communications than difficulties. However, there are still constraints for making effective use of electronic communications, among which, 'Lack of Direct Access to the Internet' is the top major constraint.
11. The introduction of electronic communication in the country had an overall positive impact, though there are still problems attributed to the store-and-forward electronic mail system.

Recommendations

1. To get a wider insight into the various facets of the impact of electronic communication services on the current and potential users, one has to do a more detailed study than was attempted by this survey.
2. It is very unfortunate that Ethiopia is one of the few countries where academic & research institutions do not have an electronic communication network node/host. The reason for this is partly due to the fact that these institutions pay little attention and allocate meagre budget for research and development activity that involves the use of modern information technology of which electronic communication technology is no exception. It is high time that the academic and research institutions in the country seriously consider building the infrastructure that will enable their researchers and academic community benefit from the information superhighway.
3. As it currently stands, most of the users of electronic communication services are in Addis Ababa and few other towns. If they are to have a greater positive impact, these and other additional services should be available to a broad base of users within and outside the capital.
4. Though the low cost Fido technology is economical and feasible to start with, it lacks many of the facilities(e.g. WWW, Gopher, remote login, WAIS, file transfer, etc.) that only full connection to the Internet provides. To make full Internet a reality, all actors (donors, policy makers, system operators, investors, etc.) within and outside the country should pull their efforts and resources together and discuss ways of co-operation. In any such venture, the experience of PADIS is indispensable so much that any worthwhile effort can not afford to exclude the organization that run electronic communication networks for quite some time.
   

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my sincere thanks to users of the PADISnet for their cooperation in the implementation of the survey. I am particularly indebted to the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada; Nancy Hafkin and Lishan Adam of PADIS for giving me the opportunity to undertake the consultancy assignment to conduct the survey study; Michael Menou for his unreserved guidance throughout the survey; and my friend and colleague, Daniel Gelaw, for his useful assistance whenever needed.

References

1. Abebe Rorissa. 1996. Impact of Electronic Communications on African Development: The Case of Ethiopia. Report of the First Phase(Mimeographed)
2. Gashaw Kebede. 1995. Evaluation of the Impact of the CAB International's CD-ROM Databases on Sustainable Development in Africa. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K.
3. Hafkin, N & Menou, M. 1995. Impact of Electronic Communications on Development in African. In McConnell, P., ed., Making a Difference: Measuring the Impact of Information on Development. Proceedings of a Workshop, Ottawa, Canada, 10-12 July, 1995. IDRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada, pp. 71-85
4. Lishan Adam. 1993. Sustainable Academic Networks in Africa: A System Operator's Perspective. In Electronic Networking for West African Universities. Report from a Workshop, Accra, Ghana, 15-17 December, 1993. American Association for the Advancement of Science/Association of African Universities, Washington, DC
5. Menou, M. 1993. Measuring the Impact of Information on Development. IDRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Note from the editor: For details about this survey, including, the sampling method used; construction of the questionnaires; interview items; and the validity as well as the reliability considerations taken into account, please contact the author directly.

About the Author: Abebe Rorissa is an Automation Librarian at the National University of Lesotho, Southern Africa. He can be reached at National University of Lesotho, P. O. Roma 180, Lesotho, Southern Africa. Tel: (+266) 340601 Ext. 2267, E-mail: abeber@LIB.NUL.LS

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