In Nigeria, new subscribers are signing up with mobile phone services at a rate of almost one every second. In Kenya, they can transfer money, get exam results and even find dates using their phones.
African farmers can decide what crops to plant by checking prices at local markets using their cell phones. Physicians can help nurses in rural clinics diagnose patients by "telemedicine."
In this topical briefing, AllAfrica brings you news of the exciting developments in the fields of telecommunications, information technology and the Internet across the continent.
Although most of Africa still lacks access to high-speed Internet, Kenya’s technology sector is booming.
Seacom, a company providing fibre-optic bandwidth to Africa, has laid the first portion of undersea cables which will link the continent to India and Europe. Brian Herlihy, Seacom’s president, talked to AllAfrica’s Tami Hultman.
(right) A ship laying cable.
Russell Southwood of Balancing Act explains what "bandwidth" is, how it is being spread and what it can do for developing countries.
(right) More Africans are accessing high speed Internet.
In just over a year, Safaricom’s M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer service, won more than three million customers. Chief executive officer Michael Joseph explains its success.
Zain, formerly known in Africa as Celtel, operates one of the continent’s major mobile phone networks. Mwambu Wanendeya and Mohammed Sheikh discuss its innovative "One Network" concept.
As far as Greg Wyler is concerned the sky is the limit when it comes to providing low-cost, high-speed Internet access to Africans.
One of the pioneers of cellular telephone technology in Africa, Joe Gatt set up the first mobile phone network in what many would have considered among the least likely countries: Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The digital divide between Africa and developed countries is narrowing, says Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York.
