1. Turning Africa’s digital divide into digital dividends
- Author:
- Fenohasina Rakotondrazaka Maret and Daiki Akiyoshi
- Publication Date:
- 05-2017
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Urban Institute
- Abstract:
- In Nairobi, Kenya, technological advances like Uber have brought positive disruption and significant benefits to consumers. The country has been called the Silicon Savannah for having hatched various technological innovations. But in some parts of Kenya, it’s not uncommon to wait for hours to get a stable Internet connection. In the capitals of Madagascar and Burkina Faso, where smartphone and computer ownership is still low, people have to go to cybercafés to access the Internet, usually on run-down computers with old software, and even then, connection speeds may be painfully slow. Slow connection speeds and lack of Internet access aren’t just a hassle though, they’re signs of the digital divide that sets many African countries behind. The World Bank’s World Development Report 2016 provides an in-depth analysis of countries’ access to and use of the Internet, mobile phones, and tools to collect, store, analyze, and share information digitally. We revisited the latest data and observed a persistent digital divide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Topic:
- Development, Science and Technology, and Digital Policy
- Political Geography:
- Kenya, Africa, Madagascar, and Burkina Faso