UNSIA Newsletter Issue 2, November 1998
Africa's long road to global connectivity
"Three quarters of the world's telephones are installed in just eight industrialized countries, while some 80 per cent of the world's people, living mostly in developing regions, have no access to a phone service," a 1997 Panos brief on telecommunications noted.
In the search for a way out of the connectivity dilemma, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) brought together the key players at a recent meeting. With global connectivity as its theme, the gathering in Addis Ababa from 2-4 June 1998, attracted over 30 African telecommunication ministers and 400 market leaders in the field of communications for development. A considerable number of civil society representatives also attended.
The conference was part of the ECA's African Information Society Initiative (AISI) programme and the first regional follow-up to last year's Global Knowledge Conference held in Toronto, Canada. Participants engaged in frank dialogue on the issues and options of connectivity open to the continent and the value of information for Africa in terms of trade and commerce.
Although over 47 African countries have access to the Internet, it is South Africa that hosts a staggering 122,000 of the total 129,300 Internet service providers recorded in the continent. South Africa registers 10,000 lines per person -- the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. K.Y. Amoako, ECA Executive Secretary, told the gathering that "Africa's participation in the global information society remains insignificant. Only a tiny percentage of Africans enjoy Internet connectivity." A World Bank report says that those countries that are unable to update their telephone network face economic ruin. "Even for very poor people," the report stresses, "access to modern telecoms can make big differences to living standards."
The situation is evidently changing for the better. Countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, South Africa, Namibia and Angola have introduced new laws and regulations in the telecoms sector with a view to increasing access to value-added services.
During a pre-conference ministerial meeting convened to focus on telecommunications development policies in Africa, the agreement that 50 million lines should be made available within the next five years, was pointed out as an issue that needs the attention of the Special Initiative on Africa. A number of recommendations called for policy action on regulatory reviews and reforms, universal access, requisite funding and capacity building of training institutions and ICT operators, sharing of regulatory reform experiences, and the need for common approaches to connectivity issues. The need for new forms of partnerships to accelerate and optimize the development potential of new technologies was underscored, with particular reference made to the inclusion of under-represented actors such as women and strategic user communities. It was noted that improved connectivity should be funded primarily by the private sector. However opportunities should be created to allow local financial participation, including micro-credit facilities in rural areas.