Bridging the digital divide in rural Africa

Internet access has largely been the preserve of rich, urban, industrialised communities since the world wide web was born.

But, in a digital age, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are essential to the growth and development of emerging economies, such as those in Africa.

A major conference organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) last week sought to redress the digital isolation of rural communities in Africa.

Bringing together nearly 200 policy-makers, IT companies, donor organisations and regulatory heads, the African Connecting Rural Communities conference in Livingstone, Zambia, looked at how to improve ‘rural connectivity’ through tools such as Universal Service Funds (USFs).

Increasing internet take-up

Universal Service Funds are government vehicles set up to levy funds to reinvest in internet connections in remote areas, but are regarded by many organisations as under-utilised.

Bob Lyazi, Administrator of the Uganda Rural Communication Development Fund, a USF run by the Uganda Communications Commission, said conference discussions focused on “how the funds can improve and become more efficient”.

“Previously we have discussed all aspects of universal access, including government intervention, universal service obligations and USFs in largely regulated forums,” he explained. “Now we are going to finally be able to deal with the global problem of a significant amount of accumulated funds said not to be utilised.”

‘Public-private-people partnerships’

At the three-day event, which took place from 25 to 27 August 2009, delegates were also able to look at the economic impact of the digital divide, the make-up of IT regulatory regimes, and how policy-makers can increase the uptake of wireless broadband.

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chief Executive of the CTO, spoke of the importance of creating a policy framework that goes beyond creating traditional ‘public-private partnerships’ to also encompass the needs of the ordinary public.

“The CTO, as the main organisation mandated to develop ICTs in the Commonwealth, remains totally committed to removing both international and national digital divides,” he said. “These various actors need to work much more closely to forge the ‘public-private-people partnerships’ we advocate, if rural communities in Africa are to be connected sooner than later.

“Forging these partnerships is critical for sustainable community ownership and empowerment.”

Dion Jerling, a delegate from Connect Africa, an ICT initiative combining entrepreneurship and social enterprise in Zambia, added: “The [conference] opened up a lot of solutions for us and it was a tremendously good networking opportunity.”

Bridging the divide across the Commonwealth

First founded in 1901 as the Pacific Cable Board, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation is one of the oldest associations affiliated with the Commonwealth.

Since 1985, it has delivered 3,500 policy, operational and regulatory assistance projects to its members in Europe, the Caribbean, Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific working to bridge the digital divide across food and agriculture, education, health, e-government and e-commerce sectors.

Key Links:

• Public Sector Development

Related News:

• Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation