Harnessing ICT: A Pre-requsite for Growth.

 
Informationtechnology is the use of computers and software to manage information. In some companies, this is referred to as Management Information Services (or MIS) or simply as Information Services (or IS).

Internet connectivity on the African continent lags far behind that of the rest of the world. Although rapid progress this year (1998) will fully connect all but one of the capitals of African countries to the Internet (see Figure 1 below, and this comprehensive overview). Where full Internet access exists, it is generally restricted to the largest cities and its cost is far beyond the means of public sector users. At the same time, more and more countries are also providing full access to remote areas, and prices are seen to drop significantly over time. However, still about 70% of African's population does not live in reach of Internet access points. Both inadequate telecommunications systems, the socio-economic situation, as well as lack of human resources in some countries are the main reason for Africa's low connectivity.

Technical roadblocks are also important in efforts to stimulate access to the information highway for development in Africa at both the national and individual levels. Five of the major ones in many African countries are:


the small number of potential users having both the skills and equipment to benefit from access to electronic information networks;

the scarcity and high costs of equipment, software and information compared to situations in the North;

lack of reliable and accessible physical telecommunications infrastructure;

telecommunications monopoly, associated with overly restrictive regulations and high costs, and

lack of interregional networking and cooperation.

Currently several initiatives are under way to improve connectivity and networking on the African continent, an example is the one-laptop-per child.

The growth of ICT will mark a rise in electronic businesses and functions, this can only transform into technological and econnomic growth. Third World countries must play catch up , to move up.