| Feature articles |
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Article no.: |
1 |
| Topic: |
Accounting for Africa's Digital Schism |
| Author: |
Melissa Powell |
| Title: |
Managing Director |
| Organisation: |
3D Global Communications |
| PDF size: |
44KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
ICT availability and Internet access are very limited in Africa. Cables provide Internet access in coastal areas and VSAT and WiFi could help bring service to Africa's interior, but infrastructure is lacking and regulatory restrictions often impede their availability. The population has limited access to computers, due to the cost or, at times, electricity to run them. Cellular phones, with their quick rollout and widespread availability, can provide Internet access, but they are costly and quite limited compared to computers.
"A digital divide threatens to exacerbate already-wide gaps between rich and poor, within countries," said United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan when he addressed world business leaders at The Net World Order conference on 18 July this year. "The stakes are high indeed. Timely access to news and information can promote trade, education, employment, health and wealth," he said. |
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Article no.: |
2 |
| Topic: |
Innovations in Telecommunications Financing in Africa |
| Author: |
C.C. Edordu |
| Title: |
President |
| Organisation: |
African Export-Import Bank |
| PDF size: |
72KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Until the mid 1980s, Africa's telecommunications sector was dominated by government-owned monopolies that provided poor service. Only 14 people per thousand had telephones - far below the world average. During the 1990s, Africa began liberalising and privatising its telecommunications sectors. Wireless and mobile telephony allowed Africa’s telecom sector to leapfrog older technologies and required less investment, while Internet growth created demand for data services. All this combined to changed telecommunications sector financing in Africa and made it more risk responsive. |
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Article no.: |
3 |
| Topic: |
ECOWAS, NEPAD and ICT: Building West Africa's Future |
| Author: |
DR. Mohamed Ibn Chambas |
| Title: |
Executive Secretary |
| Organisation: |
Economic Community Of West African States - ECOWAS |
| PDF size: |
164KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, promotes the socio-economic development of West Africa's population by working to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for economic and social development. ECOWAS, working together with NEPAD, is putting in place a series of measures designed to build the region's ICT infrastructure. Despite notable differences in the ICT policies of its member states, ECOWAS has promoted an agenda designed to build the needed ICT infrastructure and train people to use it effectively. |
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Article no.: |
4 |
| Topic: |
Big Business is Bridging the Gap |
| Author: |
Jan Embro |
| Title: |
Vice President & General Manager |
| Organisation: |
Ericsson, Southern Africa |
| PDF size: |
96KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Development does not depend only upon governments, it depends upon companies as well. This is especially true in the NEPAD region where countries face serious, long-standing, structural problems and can not go it alone. Corporative initiatives, in cooperation with NEPAD and United Nations agencies, have provided communications for disaster warning and relief, and provided computer and Internet support for local knowledge and distance learning programmes among others. The needs are many. Multinationals can help with ICT services, applications, content and training. |
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Article no.: |
5 |
| Topic: |
Communications via Satellite: An Accelerator of African Development |
| Author: |
Martin Jarrold |
| Title: |
Chief, International Programme Development |
| Organisation: |
Global VSAT Forum - GVF |
| PDF size: |
88KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| In Africa, both geography and economics make access to ICT difficult. Satellite technology provides quick, low cost, access to voice and sophisticated data based services. Nevertheless, burdensome licensing, heavy customs duties, and bureaucratic equipment approval requirements impede the use of satellite terminals. Eliminating regulatory barriers and facilitating satellite-based access promotes socio-economic development, greater educational opportunities, better health services, stimulates private sector business and investment, increases employment and the growth of foreign earnings - quite a return from communications technology! |
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Article no.: |
6 |
| Topic: |
Information Communications Technology in the South African Context |
| Author: |
Henry Ferreira |
| Title: |
Country Manager |
| Organisation: |
Hewlett-Packard, South Africa |
| PDF size: |
80KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Although 80% of South Africa's population still has little or no access to ICT, initiatives such as the Government Gateway will provide citizens with services centred on births, death, pension payouts and immunization programmes. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are the key to taking e-government forward, but these partnerships must meet black economic empowerment (BEE) criteria that have yet to be defined. Wi-Fi can also bring important advantages to South Africa, but legal questions regarding its deployment must be resolved first. |
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Article no.: |
8 |
| Topic: |
Lesotho Telecoms Sector finds its way |
| Author: |
Percy M. Mangoaela |
| Title: |
Chairman |
| Organisation: |
Lesotho Telecommunications Authority |
| PDF size: |
116KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Lesotho’s telecommunications sector is typical of least developed countries. With Swedish assistance, significant progress was made in the telecom sector, but after Swedish aid was withdrawn the network declined. A privatization policy was adopted to attract investment in fixed services and Internet growth and to foster the development of competition. Mobile telephony now offers significant competition. A universal access strategy aims to bring telecommunications to the entire population. Cell phone penetration is impressive but Internet connectivity is still quite low. |
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Article no.: |
9 |
| Topic: |
The future of Africa is wireless |
| Author: |
Stephen Nolan |
| Title: |
Country Manager |
| Organisation: |
Motorola Southern Africa |
| PDF size: |
40KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Wireless communications have decreased the pressure on fixed-line operators to meet societal demands for access. In developing countries, mobile networks, which are faster and cheaper to build, have resulted in increased tele-density in rural and underserved areas. More than half of Africa's telephone customers are mobile. In Africa, where most survive on less than $2 per day, users spend more than their European counterparts. Wireless communication is booming due to the informal economy, often underestimated in the first world. |
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Article no.: |
10 |
| Topic: |
How Wireless is changing the Development Scenario in Africa |
| Author: |
Sammy Buruchara |
| Title: |
Managing Director; Founder and Director |
| Organisation: |
Ope Systems Technologies and NairobiNet Online |
| PDF size: |
104KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Africa is among the most underserved telecommunications markets in the world. Rural areas are poorly connected; people often walk great distances to make a call. In Kenya, fixed telephone lines have remained constant for years, but cellular use has increased dramatically and cell phones have radically changed the lives of many people. The Internet has increased demand for information technology products and services, but network growth has not kept up with demand from educational institutions, banks, industry, and government. |
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Article no.: |
11 |
| Topic: |
Broadcasting, Convergence and Africa's Future |
| Author: |
Dr. Silas Babajiya Yisa PhD |
| Title: |
Director General |
| Organisation: |
National Broadcasting Commission, Nigeria |
| PDF size: |
72KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| There is little digital broadcasting, as of yet, in Africa. There are some exceptions; South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt, are taking their first steps with digital broadcasting of radio, DTH television and MMDS and a digital satellite based system has more than one million subscribers. ICT and broadcasting alone cannot resolve Africa’s problems, but they are essential parts of the solution. The biggest impediment to convergence in broadcasting and, indeed, telecommunications in general is the lack of infrastructure. |
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Article no.: |
12 |
| Topic: |
Corporate Governance- Pivotal to NEPAD Initiatives |
| Author: |
Sergio Giacoletto |
| Title: |
Executive Vice President |
| Organisation: |
Oracle Europe. Middle East and Africa |
| PDF size: |
104KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| NEPAD considers good economic and corporate governance to be essential to reducing poverty and economic growth in Africa. Good governance depends upon a company structuring its accounting and control systems to guarantee the control and consistent treatment of financial information throughout the organisation. Companies typically have multiple systems, making it difficult to integrate information and institute effective controls. Centralized accounting systems go a long way towards reducing errors, standardising financial information and providing management with the information needed for good governance. |
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Article no.: |
14 |
| Topic: |
e-Learning and Tele-Learning in Africa |
| Author: |
Mohamed El-Hagry |
| Title: |
CEO and Research Director |
| Organisation: |
SAND - S.A.E. |
| PDF size: |
64KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Education is of vital importance to the developing regions of the world. E-Learning is a promising way to provide world-class education, at reasonable cost, in remote regions of developing economies. Unfortunately, the telecommunications infrastructure is often inadequate, the technology -computers, Internet and such - is expensive and many courses are not available in local languages or meet local needs. Tele-learning, a voice-only, low cost, telephone based, alternative can often provide an adequate local substitute, or complement e-learning programs. |
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Article no.: |
15 |
| Topic: |
Technology at Work for Small and Medium Businesses in Sudan |
| Author: |
El Tayeb Mustafa Abd El Rhman |
| Title: |
Director General |
| Organisation: |
National Telecom Corporation, Sudan |
| PDF size: |
48KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Sudan's small and medium business sector is growing; the challenge is to put technology to work to help them flourish and to integrate Sudan into the global economy and information society. In the early 1990s, Sudan adopted its three-year Salvation Programme. It ended the sector's monopolistic environment and resulted in the establishment of Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications, which sets policy, and a regulator- the NTC - for the newly licensed operators and service providers created since the re-organisation. |
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Article no.: |
16 |
| Topic: |
The Free Internet Initiative (FII) |
| Author: |
Mohamed El Nawawy |
| Title: |
Chairman and Managing Director |
| Organisation: |
TE Data |
| PDF size: |
120KB |
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| About author: |
| Not available |
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| Article abstract: |
| Egypt's liberalised telecom sector introduced service-based competition. Instead of freeing prices, the government fixed Internet access at the price of a local call. The incumbent carrier, Telecom Egypt, must share this call revenue with the ISPs according to the nation's regulatory authority's formula. Internet users have no contract. They decide upon the ISP they will use each and every time they call for a connection. Consequently, the ISPs that consistently provide the best, most reliable, service get the customers. |
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