Africa Connected

Review n 2
Name: Mauricio Catena
Article: Africa Waiting For Net Revolution
Source: BBC News
Author: Darren Waters
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7063682.stm

Nowadays, only a few percentage of the population in Africa use the Internet, and the broadband penetration is below 1%. These were some of the topics dealt at the Connect Africa meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. This conference took place in Africa in order to solve these problems and to try to get financial support to improve technology and telecommunications in the continent.
The head of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr Hamadoun Toure, called for “immediate action” and is rather optimistic about the future:” "If you have just 1% of broadband access today you have 99% of opportunity.The good news is that Africa has had the highest growth in mobile use globally - twice the global average over the past three years. For the first time economic indicators are positive from Africa."
In this continent, high-speed access to the Internet is rare and this situation prevents Africa from being part of the rest of the world. This problem also affects education and telecomunications, as the institutions cannot update the technological devices they have. The main problem in Africa is the lack of interconnectivity: more of the 70% of internet traffic within Africa is routed outside the continent, increasing the costs for business and consumers. According to Dr Toure, the solution is to attract the private sector investment so it can help the continent´s economy to grow.
In Toure´s words” The heads of state present will give assurances to the private sector on the availability of competition and the creation of a proper regulatory environment for them in which to evolve," he said. "The private sector from outside Africa and inside will make fruitful partnerships." "Africa has to create the opportunities; Africa doesn't need charity”. "We need to make sure we have a good environment that will attract private sector investment. There's nothing wrong with making profits in Africa”.
It is believed that Africa will achieve its goal by 2015, when more people will have access to the Net and much more money will be invested in telecommunications and technology. Up to now, more than $ 8bn was invested in telecommunication infrastructure across the continent in 2005. We hope that people from this continent will have the chance to improve their economy and be part of the world.