Public Agenda (Accra)
Lydia Asamoah
27 October 2009
Since 2003, mobile phone subscription has grown faster in Africa than in any other region of the world, a new Information Economy Report has revealed.
Dubbed, "Trends and Outlook in Turbulent Times," and released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the report, indicates that there are now more than 10 times as many mobile subscriptions as fixed lines in Africa and more than 20 times as many in sub-Saharan Africa.
"But most African nations are failing to keep up with global trends in the use of broadband internent, which is critical for meeting many economic and social developments," the report warned.
At a media briefing alongside the International Conference on ICPD+15 being held in Addis Ababa, findings in the report noted that the past few years had witnessed a remarkable growth in mobile telecommunications in Africa. "Between 2003 and 2005, the continent saw the number of mobile subscriptions surge from 54 million to almost 350 million, an increase of 550 per cent. In 2008, Gabon, Seychelles and South Africa boasted almost 100 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. In North Africa, the average penetration stood at almost two-thirds of the population and for Africa as a whole, it was over one-third. "Growth is expected to be robust," the report added.
For many small and medium-size enterprises in Africa, the mobile phone has taken the place of the computer as the most important information and communication technology tool with African countries pioneering mobile banking and electronic transaction services.
Unfortunately, however, the inability of African countries to catch up with other developed regions in internet use and even more so in broadband connectivity is very worrisome. This trend is partly due to the lack of fixed telecommunications infrastructure. Most other developing regions boast a broadband penetration 10 times higher than Africa's. Moreover, broadband use in Africa is highly concentrated, with five countries - Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia, accounting for 90 per cent of all broadband subscriptions.
According to the report, there is a huge gap in broadband speed and also a broadband price divide which calls for urgent attention to address the situation to bring the continent more fully online. So far, out of the 20 countries with the world's most expensive broadband access fees, 14 are in sub-Saharan Africa. Even within Africa the price divide is huge.
The report has therefore recommended that measures targeting the rolling out of broadband to areas with low connectivity are required to help alleviate infrastructure bottlenecks. "An important challenge is to explore new and innovative ways to finance new and more powerful fixed and mobile broadband networks. Making significant progress in Africa will require contributions from national governments, the donor community and the private sector," it added.
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