Kampala — LOW levels of education, inadequate electricity supply and infrastructural challenges remain massive impediments for Africa to reap the full benefits of the modern information and communication technology (ICT).

This was one of the conclusions of last week's concluded Digital Africa Summit.

Experts said education of the masses is needed to understand and fully exploit the opportunities ICT can offer.

"You may have a real waste if you have a resource that just a few understand. What we need to do is to educate our citizens how they can maximize this opportunities," said Ghana's deputy minister for ICT, Gideon Quarcoo.

While the continent is being bombarded by all sorts of new applications, industry experts believe there is a general shortage of a critical mass that understands the power and potential of ICT. This is compounded by poor investments in the ICT sector, making Internet difficult to access and even more difficult to afford.

Because of this, experts advised, Africa should form partnerships with those who have moved ahead in ICT and have matching resources.

"Governments on their own cannot undertake to build the sector. There is a huge need for private sector investment," said Kenya's minister for ICT, Samuel Poghisio.

Other experts say the infrastructure gap should be used as opportunities. "Let's look at the low literacy level as underutilized skills, and the unemployed as working poor," said Ambrose Ruyooka of the ICT ministry.

According to the Uganda Communications Commission, the fact that half of the population is below the age of 15 means there is a huge group of energetic and trainable youth who can lead the transformation.

"Only about 3.5% of Africans use the internet. There is low penetration which means there is still a lot to be done for the knowledge economy," said Ruyooka.

Three sea cables are set to land at East Africa's coastal ports in the next months, starting in June. SEACOM, TEAM and EASSY are expected to add a much needed boost to the sector by availing cheap connectivity through fibre optic.

The potential in the ICT sector has been demonstrated by the mobile phone, says the presidential adviser on ICT, Ham Mulira.

"Fifteen years ago, there were 40,000 phones out of 20 million people. Today we have about 9 million people with phones."

The mobile phone has emerged not just as a tool for making calls. Today it is used for music, navigation, business, voice and social networking.

"Consumers now want an all-in-one device that they can carry anywhere. Internet is going mobile, from desktop to pocket," said Gerard Brandjes, Nokia's general manager for East Africa.

The Internet boom in Africa, experts predict, has only just begun.