Telecommunications In Africa

This publication views Africa in a global perspective, in economic, regulatory and technological terms. Arguments are offered for ensuring that Africa keeps pace with global technology as the rest of the world is gearing towards multimedia communications and the associated productivity gains.

Table of Contents

This book provides the first full account of the 20-year story of universal access and service in South Africa’s ICT sector. From 1994 the country’s first democratic government set out to redress the deep digital divide afflicting the overwhelming majority of its citizens, already poor and disenfranchised, but likewise marginalised in access to telephone infrastructure and services. By this time, an incipient global policy regime was driving reforms in the telecomms sector, and also developing good practice models for universal service. Policy diffusion thus led South Africa to adopt, adapt and implement a slew of these interventions. In particular, roll-out obligations were imposed on licensees, and a universal service fund was established. But an agency with a universal service mandate was also created; and licences in under-serviced areas were awarded. The book goes on to identify and analyse the policy success and failure of each of these interventions, and suggests some lessons to be learned.

Telecommunication for Business in Africa is a collection of studies on policy and regulation for the communications sector, as well as on telecommunication solutions and information services designed for economic actors in sub-Saharan Africa. This limitative angle on business solutions and services, which however impact strongly on economic performance, is the unique characteristic of this volume. The studies presented are based on original research across Africa and include detailed country case studies. Telecommunication for Business in Africa documents opportunities offered by today's communities of investors, systems integrators and concept designers, aiming to empower both small and large business and making Africa more competitive. Telecom Forum Africa (Kenya), the initiators of this publication, is a research and investment promotion organization.

World Bank Technical Paper No. 345. This report examines specific policies for achieving sustainable development of the mining industry in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The report highlights the importance of the mining sector to national economies of the region and discusses World Bank assistance in formulating policy. Also available in Spanish: (ISBN 0-8213-3942-7) Stock no. 13942.

This book examines the formulation of telecommunications in Africa, with explanations on how telecommunications affects economic development. In Africa, the Pan-African Telecommunications Network (PANAFTEL) is analyzed vis-a-vis its infrastructural programs to support the goals and objectives of the African economic development plan. The author's study was shaped by questions concerning the current state of African telecommunications development and the need to assess the role of PANAFTEL provision of telecommunications services designed to meet the defined African economic objectives. The historical maturation of PANAFTEL and its four sub-regional networks: PANAFTEL-North, PANAFTEL-West (ECOWAS-network), PANAFTEL-Central, and PANAFTEL-South (SADCC-network) are examined as well. For each sub-region there is a descriptive analysis of the infrastructure, technology, operation, and other associated developmental factors. On the future direction of telecommunications development in Africa, the author sheds light on the emergence of the Regional African Satellite Communication System (RASCOM) which could revolutionize African telecommunications. Furthermore, the author makes recommendations for adding African telecommunications advancement, including the establishment of a Pan-African Telecommunications Academy and the establishment of a fund to support PANAFTEL initiatives by the developed member countries of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization.