Better policies key to high internet connectivity

This is because good policies ensure that there are fair business models and competition which lead to the reduction in the cost of telecommunication services.

“Policy plays a key role, so we need to make sure that governments understand that policy is important,” Akol said while speaking to participants at the Broadband Africa-Access, Applications and Content forum at the Highway Africa conference in Grahamstown in South Africa on Tuesday, 8 September 2009.

His discussion was in line with the progress of the six fibre optic cables that are under construction in Africa including, the East African Submarines Cable System (EASSy), the East African Marines System (TEAMS) and SEACOM which is now operational.

Akol observed that there is currently high demand for broadband connectivity in Africa but because the cost of accessing it remains high, only a few people have access. This he said was because there is no structural organisation for broadband connectivity and good policy initiatives when it comes to pricing and competition.

Anne-Rachel Inne, Africa regional relations manager of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), added that connectivity remains low because internet service providers are not networked together to optimise even the available broadband connectivity.

“If we were to use the bandwidth that we have now, we would do more things,” Inne said. Cooperation to exploit the available internet resources and having proper connectivity to global connectivity, she said was vital in creating local content. In addition, she also called on African internet service providers and companies to adopt more secure local platforms for distributing electronic information and services.

Eric Osiakwan the executive secretary for the Internet Service Providers Association of Africa noted that an increase in connectivity across Africa was relevant for economic development. Quoting statistics from the World Bank Information and Communication for Development report, he said, for every 10% growth in penetration of broadband in developing countries, there is 1.38% increase in gross domestic product compared to 1.2% in developed countries.

“Broadband forms an integral part of economic development and growth. It is a way of stimulating economies in a recession as has been realizsd by developing countries,” Osiakwan said.

Broadband and last mile internet services were advised to adopt the low margin and high volume business model to increase access to connectivity as opposed to the restrictive high margin and low volume model.

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