Washington, D.C. — The African continent - home to one in eight of the world's people - has just one in 50 of the world's fixed line subscribers, one in 60 of the world's mobile cellular subscribers, one in 70 of the world's personal computers and only one percent of the world's internet users, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
This enormous gap can be bridged said keynote speakers Wednesday at the opening session of the 10th AFCOM conference. Since last year, internet users in Africa have increased by nearly 100 percent, from 2.5 million to nearly 5 million, according to the research and consulting firm BMI-TechKnowledge. Every African country is now online. In 1996 only 11 were online. New mobile phone subscribers have increased by more than 50 percent and fixed-line telephones have increased by over 4.5 million lines.
However, said AFCOM founder Dr. Raymond Akwule, "from an African perspective, the concept of the digital divide is linked to economic and social transformation of the continent." Information technology cannot be a cure for Africa's complex problems, said Akwule, but it "can be a facilitator in finding solutions."
In his address to conference participants, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chair, Michael K. Powell picked up that theme and called for changing the focus of discussion from "digital divide" to "digital development." Like all slogans, said Powell, digital divide "is less useful in helping us to find answers, and may not fully capture the breadth of our challenge."
Elaborating, Powell argued that a "race to parity" with the developed world "does not serve" the developing world. "Technology will not be caught" because technological tools are not like the hoe or hammer which do not change or change very little, said Powell. So he fears that a race to acquire technology as if it were a static tool cannot be won and that it will cause "the gulf to widen as better-off communities advance at even faster rates."
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What is needed for digital development in Africa, said Powell, are "effective strategies that foster conditions necessary for innovation and the productive, efficient deployment of technology in our communities." Capital markets will be crucial he told an audience of about 150 that included government ministers as well as private entrepreneurs. In Africa there is a need for "risk-taking ventures" and "establishment of an environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship and change."
A communications infrastructure capable "of efficient, ubiquitous and affordable access to digital transmission," is of critical importance said Powell and developing it will require encouraging "intellectual capital" as well as financial capital. "Our schools and programs have to do more than train the next generation of clerical workers"
And always remember that information and communication technologies are tools that "must be adapted to our cultures and our societies," he concluded. "It must be integrated into our lives in a way that solves problems for people and empowers them."
