ICT Policies in Africa (original) (raw)
Related papers
Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Levels, Trends and Perspectives
Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements, 2019
The ICTs revolution has caused profound upheavals in various aspects around the world including Africa. Whatever form they take, ICT-induced changes may have significant implications not only in the sector itself but also in all development sectors. The changes in the ICT sector in Africa are part of an international dynamic resulting from the combination of liberalization policies, incredible technological advances and strong consumer demand. This chapter presents the levels, trends and perspectives of Information and Communication Technologies in the African region. This chapter proceeds first with a literature review on regulatory policies in order to understand their ripple effects. After presenting a general history of ICTs, it analyses the evolving factors of internet connection in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also presents the internet perspectives and regulation in Africa including technologies trends as well as key technologies. It also assesses and proposes types of technologies...
It is widely accepted that the key drivers of economic growth are largely dependent on the level of technology, innovation and knowledge.2 In this regard, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) are at the core of innovation activities, technology diffusion and knowledge diffusion within societies. Therefore ICT, if utilised effectively can become a very valuable device in promoting sustainable growth in societies3 The African continent's economic growth is becoming increasingly broad based. Excluding South Africa, on average in 2012, Africa's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate reached 4, 7%.4 In Africa in 2012, twenty-five countries' GDP growth rate was above 7% and fourteen countries grew at a rate between 3% and 5%5. This growth rate is attributed to an increase in the value of commodities, increased remittances, and policy reforms which have stimulated foreign direct investment (FDI). Despite the GDP growth rate increase, African economies remain fragile as economic diversification remains low. This paper explores the interrelationship between the ICT and socio economic growth in Africa. This relationship is explored through an in depth analysis of the international experience of the ICT; the necessity of new economic and development instruments; the positive impact of the ICT on the socio economic development in Africa, and the actual limits of the ICT in Africa.
The Growing Impact of ICT on Development in Africa
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Fourth Edition
Information and communication technology for development has been evolving for almost four decades realizing business and socioeconomic development and growth and capitalizing on channels for information acquisition and knowledge dissemination allowing the creation of an emerging global knowledge-based society with innovative means of communication that can help increase competitiveness for individuals, organizations and societies. ICT tools and applications could be used as an effective platform to minimize the digital divide and promote social inclusion. The transformation process enabled through ICT is affecting different aspects of the economy and is forcing governments to rethink the way they handle their socioeconomic challenges as they move forward in their development paths. This article addresses some of the initiatives in Africa to minimize the intra and inter digital divide, and join actively the global knowledge society by capitalizing on emerging technologies but more i...
Today’s digital developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) requires affordable universal access beyond voice or text messages (short message service – SMS) carried over mobile phones, such as mobile money and the internet at broadband speeds. The World Development Report 2016 on Digital Dividends argues that first-generation supply-side policies for the ICT sector, which aimed at universal access and affordability, have proved highly successful for voice services and selected applications such as mobile payment services using the same 2G platform as the voice service. With the growth of the ICT sector and the development of bandwidth-heavy applications, the policy focus is progressively shifting from solving supply-side challenges (such as how to ensure affordable universal access to networks) to addressing demand-side challenges (such as how to ensure that networks are open and safe). This will allow individuals, governments, and enterprises to take full advantage of the digital revolution and reap the Digital Dividend. This article reviews the state of the sector’s performance in AFCW3 countries and highlights a lagging reform agenda along with risks of the emergence of a cozy oligopoly market structure, issues related to distressed state-owned operators, ineffective implementation of universal access and service policies and programs, and inappropriate taxation of the sector. The note makes the case for governments to tackle the unfished reform agenda if the sector is to achieve better development outcomes in terms of faster growth, more jobs as well as better services.