BuaNews (Tshwane)
20 August 2007
Nairobi — A technology conference aims to find ways to connect 80 percent of Africa's population to the Internet and telephone services.
The meeting which opened on Sunday brings together ministers, regulators, company executives and high-level officials from various development agencies to discuss the technological divide that has been blamed for the slow pace of economic progress in Africa.
Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the chief executive of Commonwealth of Telecommunications Organisations (CTO), described the conference as bringing together high quality speakers and delegates.
"Participants in this conference are those who have come to acknowledge that challenges that the global community faces in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector, that of connecting Africa's rural populations, are surmountable."
The conference is envisaged to significantly contribute to the development of universal access to ICT in the African region.
The meeting, dubbed Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum 2007 is organised by the CTO with telecoms market regulator Communications Commission of Kenya as the host. It will discuss research findings, policy options, regulatory strategies, business models, financing and investment, available technology and public-private-people-partnerships that can improve rural connectivity in Africa.
The conference is a precursor to a major CTO study on Africa's rural connectivity planned to kick off early next year. Studies have shown advancement in use of ICTs in developing nations is a key booster of socio-economic development, as well as the general progress and well-being of individuals and communities.
ICT has been identified as a key factor that determines a country's ability to attain the Millennium Development Goals, such as eliminating poverty, combating serious diseases, improving access to education and providing equal opportunities to women.
The conference is expected to discuss these issues and highlight the work of African governments, regulators and the private sector in providing universal access to information technology and telecommunication services.
ICT experts say partnerships involving governments, regulators and the private sector can offer sustainable and widespread access to the 80 percent of the African population that remains outside the technology platform.
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