Academic literature on the topic 'Telecommunication policy, africa'

This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of telecommunication regulation and policy frameworks in the United States (USA) and various African countries. Telecommunications play a pivotal role in socio-economic development, and the regulatory environment significantly influences the sector's performance. The study explores the historical evolution, regulatory bodies, and frameworks in both regions, aiming to identify commonalities, disparities, and the impact of regulatory approaches on market dynamics. The review begins by delineating the theoretical foundations of telecommunications regulation, emphasizing concepts such as market liberalization, competition, and regulatory governance. A historical overview traces the development of regulatory frameworks in the USA and Africa, shedding light on the contextual factors that shaped each region's approach. In examining telecommunications regulation in the USA, the paper delves into the roles and responsibilities of key regulatory bodies, notably the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The regulatory framework is scrutinized, with a focus on market liberalization, spectrum management, and licensing policies. Achievements and challenges within the US regulatory landscape are critically evaluated. Turning to Africa, the study explores the diverse regulatory approaches adopted by selected countries and the influence of regional organizations on policy formulation. Common challenges faced by African regulators, as well as unique contextual factors shaping the regulatory landscape, are discussed. The heart of the analysis lies in the comparative assessment of regulatory objectives and policy instruments between the USA and Africa. The study evaluates the alignment of these objectives with the socio-economic context of each region and assesses the effectiveness of policy instruments in achieving regulatory goals. Examining the impact on the telecommunications sector, the paper contrasts market structures, competition levels, and the role of regulation in fostering technological development. The analysis extends to the implications of regulatory frameworks on the deployment of emerging technologies, such as 5G. The paper summarizes key findings, highlighting patterns, trends, and lessons learned from the comparative analysis. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed, emphasizing the potential for international collaboration and the identification of areas where improvements in regulatory frameworks can contribute to the sustainable development of the telecommunications sector in both the USA and Africa. Keywords: Telecommunications Regulation, Telecommunications Policy, Comparative Analysis, USA, Africa, Digital Inclusion.

This article investigates the reasons most African households are not using the internet and discusses the policy implications for bridging the digital divide. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that at the end of 2014, only 7 percent of households in LDCs, most of whom are in Africa, had Internet access. This study analyses data from the ITU database and other sources to identify the determinants of the digital divide in Africa. Results show that peculiar challenges such as affordability and digital literacy do influence the percentage of African households who do not use the internet.

Digital rights are human rights in the digital era, specifically on the internet. Digital rights are becoming critical as people increasingly spend a lot of time online, accessing different services and information that are key to human survival and well-being. Resolution 362 (on the Right to Freedom of Information and Expression on the Internet in Africa) of The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and resolution on the Promotion, Protection, and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet of the United Nations Human Rights Council affirmed that same rights that people enjoy offline must also be protected online. This paper assesses legal and policy gaps affecting digital rights in Malawi, thereby making a critical contribution to scholarship in this area. In addition to the literature and policy review of digital rights in Malawi, the study used a questionnaire as a data collection tool, targeting purposefully selected key informants from Malawi’s telecommunication sector, media associations, NGOs, and telecommunication regulators to assess challenges affecting digital rights in Malawi. The study found that achieving digital rights in the country remains a distant dream for most people due to the expensive cost of the internet, insufficient telecommunication and electricity infrastructure, restrictive legal framework, and low digital literacy. These factors make access to the ICTs and the internet inaccessible for most people, denying them access to and participation in political, social, and economic activities enabled by digital platforms.

One of the goals of the telecommunications industry is to provide universal connectivity to its consumers. Achieving this goal is highly dependent on the allocation of radio frequency (RF) spectrum. The RF spectrum refers to the frequencies assigned to diverse services such as mobile, fixed, and satellite services. These allocations are regulated by international, regional, and local authorities. Countries across the globe have embarked on the journey to transform their RF spectrum allocation policies to be more inclusive and hybrid in nature. Such changes in some countries, have enabled new entrants and incumbent operators to provide low-cost connectivity into small rural communities, bridging the digital divide gap. Due to current policies by some regulators and perceived anti-competitive laws, new entrants and small operators find it difficult to penetrate the telecommunications market in South Africa. To address this challenge, the overall and ongoing study, proposes an alternative and inclusive framework for universal coverage and low-cost connectivity that accommodates both incumbent and new entrant operators in South Africa. To achieve this aim, a qualitative desktop research approach was used to analyze publicly available information, including journal articles, RF spectrum policy documents from various countries, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) documents and other academic sources. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding the policy on the allocation of RF spectrum. As this is an ongoing study, preliminary findings indicated that auctions remain a popular RF spectrum allocation model of choice, despite being perceived by some scholars as less competitive and inflexible. The final study findings, which would be in a subsequent research paper, aim to develop a new RF spectrum framework that may help achieve universal coverage and low-cost connectivity in South Africa.

The research object is the role of China’s assistance in the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies projects in the context of international assistance of China to Africa, and the role of the Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) in this process. The research subject is the set of measures used by China to provide such assistance including that within FOCAC. The author studies such aspects of the topic as the importance of Chinese transnational corporations operating in the field of communication technologies, the role of FOCAC as a platform helping realize effective cooperation between China and Africa in the field of telecommunication, and the reaction of Western countries to such actions of Beijing. To solve the research tasks the author uses the following methods: structural-logical, the system approach, historical and economical and statistical analysis. The author arrives at the following conclusions: 1) the Information and Communication Technologies field is one of the most promising market sectors for China in Africa, as its corporations have a range of advantages compared with their Western competitors; 2) in consideration of close connection between Chinese companies and the government, it is obvious that through this interaction, Beijing successfully extends the pool of its political partners; 3) FOCAC plays a special role as it is the only mechanism allowing China to realize its African vector of external policy bilaterally and multilaterally. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the fact that the author analyzes the topic which hasn’t been studied sufficiently enough in Russian and foreign historiography; the author analyzes new sources and attempts to define the role of FOCAC particularly in cooperation in the field of telecommunication.   

De Gaulles “Communaute”. A Bridge from Colonialism to Paternalism in Afrika. The importance of the French-African Communauté is more than just historical. Indeed, the present French-African relationship is not completely understandable without a knowledge of the Community, which was created by the constitution of the fifth French Republic (1958). President de Gaulle, who was its inspirator, realised that in the changing world the relationship between France and its colonial territories had to be adapted. The French-African Community was a federal structure in which the French-speaking territories south of the Sahara became autonomous republics. Yet their autonomy was substantially restricted: foreign affairs, defense, the economic and financial policy, justice, higher education, the policy concerning raw materials (e.g. uranium and oil), and the organisation of international transport and telecommunication were reserved for the federal institutions. Although four institutions were created within the Community (the Presidency, the Executive Board, the Senate and the Court of Arbitration), only the Presidency had real power: the exclusive legislative and executive competence in all Community matters. The function of Community President was reserved for the French President. Therefore it can undoubtedly be said that the French-African Community was not a genuine federal structure, but merely a constitutional arrangement which ensured France the exclusive control over its former African colonies. The African political leaders were also aware of this and claimed the abolition of the French-African Community. Using the possibility for change, provided by the 78th article of the constitution, they demanded independence by the transfer of all reserved competences (1960). In order to avoid any rupture, France accepted on the condition that bilateral cooperation agreements would be signed simultaneously. These agreements, which were revised halfway the seventies and which are still in force today, provide France with an unique position in Africa. No former metropole has a comparable influence in Africa. Besides, the French-African Conference, which is organised anually since 1973, gives France an excellent forum to influence and control the policy of African states. At this Conference almost every former French colonie in Africa is present, some Belgian, British, Spanish and Portuguese territories participate as well. Moreover, the cooperation agreements explicitly allow France to maintain large troups in Africa and to give support by military intervention whenever it is necessary. France's strict control over one of the most important attributes of state sovereignity, namely defense, increases largely the already acuted dependency on Paris. Yet, the economic position of most of the former French colonies and territories in Africa is the best illustration of their present dependence. Still today more than 40% of their trade is realised with the former metropole (export: raw materials; import: finished goods). Moreover, most of them are members of the so-called “zone franc”, a monetary zone which is completely controlled by the French authorities. The good relationship between France and Africa remained as a result of which extensive bilateral cooperation agreements could be signed within the framework of the French-African Community. This continuity has always been one of the main characteristics of the French policy in Africa.

E-government has been one of the top government strategies in recent years. Several studies and projects have attempted to understand the scope of e-government and the measurement framework that can be deployed to track the readiness as well as progress of nations overtime. Among these initiatives is the United Nations Public Administration Network (UN PAN) that assesses the e-government readiness of nations according to a quantitative composite index based on telecommunication infrastructure, human capital, and online services. Using the UN PAN index data from 2008 to 2016, the article profiles African nations using unsupervised machine learning technique. It also examines the resulting cluster profiles in terms of theoretical perspectives in the literature and derive policy insights from the different groupings of nations and their evolution over time. Finally, the article discusses the policy implications of the proposed methodology and the insights obtained.

The efforts to reduce the widened effects of structural inequality for women in South Africa have resulted in varied experiences (Burns, Tomita, & Lund, 2017). The study problematised the unresearched and not well articulated social construct within the career experiences of women working in a telecommunication company in South Africa. This article argues that the meaning ascribed to the socio context and equity policy can better describe the dimension of the broader issue of gender inequality in post-apartheid South Africa. The study contributes to discourse analysis methods where discourse analysis was used to explain the experiences of three women who are senior managers with at least ten years of experience. The discourse-based understanding of the experiences of women in this study was reframed into and within the interactions of equity policy deliberation, societal factors and the organisational context model. These interactions allowed interpretation of the career choice for women and what it means for personal development. The model of career experience depicts strong alternative views on a career path for women. The results of this study provide unique findings for justice regulation in the workplace for women in South Africa.

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an answer as to whether fibre to the home and other types of fixed internet access still have a role to play in Africa beyond a few urban elites, as well as what business models are likely to be successful in the African context. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses data from nationally representative ICT household surveys conducted in 12 African countries in 2012. These data are complemented by an OECD broadband pricing methodology and data. In addition to the OECD basket methodology, own baskets were defined to capture the complexity of African products, and to draw out the different business models for fixed and mobile broadband. Findings – The paper demonstrates that if fixed internet is provided as an uncapped service at an affordable price, it has a chance to at least co-exist with mobile broadband in Africa. The availability of fixed internet is rapidly diminishing where it is offered as a capped service and not at prices similar to mobile broadband. The paper also demonstrates that fixed-line telecommunication companies should to focus on data only before mobile operators do, and they lose out once again. Practical implications – In Africa, mobile voice overtook fixed voice at the turn of the millennium with the introduction of prepaid services. Ten years later, mobile internet is rapidly overtaking fixed internet by overcoming key obstacles to fixed internet access. While the developed world discusses the merits of fixed and mobile broadband, it is clear that for Africa, fixed broadband in the form of fibre to the home, or even plain ADSL, will only reach a few urban elites in the next decade. Fixed-line operators then should rethink their pricing and investment strategies: they are advised to invest in high-speed technologies such as VDSL or fibre to the home, if fixed broadband is to stand a chance against mobile broadband. Whether fixed-line operators will lose the data battle as well will be determined by their business decisions as well as by policy and regulatory interventions. Originality/value – This paper uses primary household and individual data that allows for a better understanding of internet access and use in Africa. The analysis of internet access prices for ADSL against prepaid and post-paid mobile broadband is used to assess broadband business strategies across 12 African countries. The paper provides policymakers and regulators with the evidence required for an informed ICT policy and regulation and it recommends business strategies that should be pursued by operators to improve broadband sector performance.

Following the liberalization of telecommunication markets in African States, and the increasing availability of wireless technologies and broadband capacity, the levels of Internet penetration and ICT access in Africa has continued to grow in a phenomenal manner since the beginning of the new millennium. Internet use statistics indicate that Africa’s Internet user population grew from about four and a half million people in 2000 to about 400 million people in December, 2017. However, widespread ICT access and Internet penetration in Africa has also raised concerns over the need to promote cybersecurity governance and cyber stability across the continent. This prompted the African Union to establish a regional cybersecurity treaty, known as the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, in June, 2014. The Convention imposes obligations on Member States to establish legal, policy and regulatory measures to promote cybersecurity governance and control cybercrime. This article analyzes the nature and scope of the cybersecurity governance obligations under the Convention and examines how the adoption of the Convention can promote cyber stability in the African region. In so doing, the paper also examines the challenges impeding the application of the Convention as a framework for promoting regional cyber stability in Africa. The paper identifies the slow pace of Member State ratification and the absence of effective regional coordination as some of the major reasons why the Convention has not been effectively applied as a framework for promoting regional cyber stability. Therefore, the paper makes a case for the establishment of a regional monitoring mechanism within the AU framework to improve the regional harmonization of cybersecurity governance frameworks, and harness the application of the Convention as a framework for promoting regional cyber stability.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006.
From the 1990s onwards, significant developments have occurred in the international telecommunications sector that have affected the South African telecommunications industry and peoples' access to the telephony. Rapid developments in Information and Communication Technologies together with the reorganisation of telecommunications operators through commercialisation, privatisation and market liberalisation have resulted in monopoly operators moving away from their public service mandates. Globalisation and adherence to World Trade Organisation rules are causing operators to rebalance their tariffs, long-distance rates are decreasing while the cost of local calls is increasing. High-end users of telecommunication services are benefiting while low-end, largely residential users are being priced off the network. The end result is a negative effect on universal access to telecommunications. This study examines the extent of telecommunications reform within the South African telecommunications industry as it affects the provision of telecommunication services and the government's goal of achieving universal access in South Africa. Quantitative research methods utilising secondary data were utilised to establish that the state owned operator, Telkom, has transformed itself from a public service operator to one that is fully commercialised and prepared for competition. This study finds that despite the large roll-out programme in fixed-line telecommunications, there has been only very limited uptake for rural and low-income users. Although Telkom's exclusivity period initially caused an acceleration of the growth in net new lines from Telkom's greater investment levels, this acceleration only lasted until 2000/1 when Telkom started to enforce timely accounts payment more strictly. This resulted in an actual decrease in the total number of active lines in 2001 and 2002, despite new lines being rolled out. Household figures suggest that low-income households disconnected in large numbers. Fixed line telephony access was given to people who could not afford telephones and hence they were later disconnected. The end result was that fixed lines ended up growing at a similar rate to what they were prior to the exclusivity period, suggesting that the grand subsidisation of universal access was most likely a waste of resources and only resulted in temporary ownership improvements. A further problem now faced by government is the number of people who were disconnected from Telkom and remain indebted to the company. These households are prevented from getting a fixed-line phone until they repay their deb!. This has potentially far-reaching effects on their lives through destroying their credit rating. In contrast to fixed line telephones, the growth in cellular subscribers has grown beyond all expectations. Almost all the gains in ownership have come from the adoption of cellular by rural and low-income users. This study demonstrates that cellular is the rational choice for most low-income consumers given the different tariff structures and the average monthly spend on communication. The study further suggests that future use of universal service funds should be more technology neutral, this will enhance the role of cellular telecommunications in such plans. Removing the burden off fixed line for universal service provision may enable the acceleration of telecommunication liberalisation in South Africa. Obvious benefits are better prices and products for business users. Fixed-line technology remains the core technology for business users who require bandwidth for data services and make considerably more calls than residential users, making fixed-line the cheaper technology. Amongst the current biggest users are cellular network operators. Improving prices on leasing and interconnection should lower cellular call rates, making it even more attractive to low-income users. Finally, the new Intemational Telecommunication Union definitions for universal access and service now include cellular technology and move away from a fixed-line focus. These definitions are very much in line with the results identified in this study.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to assess the state of developments of Information Communication Technologies (ICT's) in the Gauteng Province as a driving factor for evolution into informational economy. Throughout the world the convergence of telecommunications, computing and publishing industries has changed the way in which the world economies and society at large are organized. It is important for every part of society to adapt to these changes. Since 1996 a number of institutional developments at a global, national, provincial, industrial, municipality and community levels have taken place to prepare society for the digital revolution. These institutional initiatives took form of policies and programs that would have an impact on the Gauteng Province. Therefore, it is necessary for Gauteng Province to develop a planning framework that is informed by these changes and initiatives. The theoretical basis of the study was Critical Multiplism. This approach employs multiple perspectives, methods, measures and data sources to arrive at plausible conclusions. The study concludes that the Gauteng Province has reached a critical point for rapid growth of ICT's to take place.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie fokus op die evaluering van die ontwikkeling van die Informasie Kommunikasie Tegnologie in Gauteng as 'n dryffaktor vir die evolusie na 'n informasie ekonomie. Internasionaal het die integrasie van telekommunikasie, rekenarisering en publisieteit industrieë die manier van organisasie van wêreld ekonomie en die samelewing verander. Dit is belangrik vir die sameling se voortbestaan om aan te pas by hierdie veranderinge. Sedert 1996 het verskeie institute en organisasies op globale, nasionale, provinsiale, industrieële, munisipale en gemeenskaps vlak reeds met voorbereidings begin vir die digitale revolusie. Hierdie inisiatiewe het die vorm van voorskrifte en programme aangeneem wat 'n definitiewe impak maak op Gauteng. Dit is belangrik vir Gauteng om 'n voorskriftelike raamwerk op te stel in lyn met hierdie inisiatiewe. Die teoretiese basis van hierdie studie was Kritiese Vermenigvuldiging. Hierdie metode maak gebruik van verskeie sienings, maniere en inligtingsbronne om by 'n werkbare oplossing te kom. Hierdie studie beklemtoon die feit dat Gauteng 'n krietiesie punt bereik het vir vinnige groei in Informasie Kommunikasie Tegnologie.

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management, and, in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-150).
While most of the world's population resides in countries that are wealthy or developing, the rest reside in low-income and least developed countries (LDCs), left behind and growing more disconnected. At the same time, mobile phones are widely adopted in these underdeveloped areas and demonstrate potential for economic development. However, technological innovation and policies have often addressed narrow dimensions of poverty and development. Sustainable development, on the other hand, assesses the welfare of a country in its entirety. This then begs the question of how mobile telephony technology, given its pervasiveness, can be beneficial on a systemic and sustainable level. This document presents evidence that mobile phones can contribute to sustainable development in several ways. The focus is on selected countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria, each of which is categorized as a LDC. The Sustainable Development framework is used to analyze data from case studies and existing technology, institutional and policy trends in the mobile telecommunication industry. The evidence from literature demonstrates that mobile initiatives focused on niche areas, such as banking and health, have benefited on the community level and improved operations within firms. Mobile industry policies have created a healthy system of innovation in these countries. However, environmental development has been secondary or even ignored. Thus, the recommendations focus on prioritizing sustainability, specific policies continuing diffusion and adoption, technology transfer mechanisms, increased robustness in data-tracking and countering external economic shocks. The data presented is not meant to be comprehensive nor complete. Consequently, suggested future work addresses short-term, mid-term, and long-term strategies. Specific areas include examining causal linkages for mobile phone adoption, designing technology initiatives around sustainability goals, and drivers that facilitate technology transfer. Mobile telecommunication technology offers real opportunities for development and growth in Africa. If the focus of development shifts from mere economic growth to sustainable development, countries can not only transform their economic fortunes but also enhance the quality of their environment.
by Alexander Shih.
S.M.in Engineering and Management, and, in Technology and Policy

Since the deregulation of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in 2005, many South African organizations are now attempting to leverage its cost saving and competitive values. However, it has been recently cited that VoIP is one of the greatest new risks to organizations and this risk is cited to increase Information Security insurance premiums in the near future. Due to the dynamic nature of the VoIP technology, regulatory and legislative concerns such as lawful interception of communications and privacy may also contribute to business risk. In order to leverage value from the VoIP implementation, an organization should implement the technology with knowledge of the potential risk of civil liability. This is further highlighted by the King III Report which indicates that the Directors of an organization should be ultimately responsible for Corporate Governance and, therefore, IT Governance and Information Security Governance. The report goes further to say that any newly implemented technology, such as VoIP, should comply with all South African legislation and regulations. This responsibility encourages the practice of both due care and due diligence. However, recent trends exercised by Information Security professionals, responsible for drafting Information Security policies and related procedures, often neglect the regulatory requirements and choose to only implement international best practices with no consideration of the risk of civil liability. Although these best practice frameworks may inadvertently comply with existing local legislation, a chance of an oversight is possible. Oversights may not only result in criminal sanctions, but also civil action due to losses or damages suffered. With regard to implementing VoIP, good Corporate Governance could potentially be ensured through the use of both identified regulations and relevant international best practices. This dissertation aims to aid organizations in avoiding or at least mitigating the risk of civil liability to better leverage VoIP’s value, through good Corporate Governance practices. This should aid in the exercise of due care and due diligence when implementing VoIP as a means of conducting business communication.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is widely regarded as a key tool for bringing about development to people who live in underserved areas. Technologies such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi are seen as advantageous because they can be made available to poor places without the cost of building extensive physical infrastructure. However, researchers argue that ICTs have failed to live up to their potential in the context of development. Researchers point out developing countries lack frameworks to guide them through the implementation of ICTs in this context. The objective of this study is to come up with a framework that can be used in rural areas in South Africa to implement ICT projects. The researcher interviewed individuals who have been directly involved in an ICT initiative in a rural setting in the Eastern Cape Province to learn from their experiences. The researcher also studied publications that have been produced from these initiatives in order to gain a richer understanding. The findings of the study show that participants share similar views about how ICT projects should be approached and implemented in rural areas in South Africa. The views are grouped according to similarity into themes and discussed in detail in the study. From these themes a framework that can help implement ICT projects in rural areas is developed.

There is a great difference that exists between people who have access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and those who do not. As a developing nation, South Africa is badly affected by the so-called Digital Divide. Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD) interventions are rapidly increasing in marginalized and rural communities in striving to bridge this digital divide. This research project is undertaken within the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is an ICTD intervention at Dwesa rural community. This research investigates how audio-based services can be applied locally for communication and information sharing. This research aims to develop a user-driven telephony framework which will enable users to construct customized audio-based services. This aims to empower the Dwesa community for skill development and supports the user-driven innovation. The Internet and Telephones are the most popular technologies that are widely used in our daily life for purposes of communication and information access. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) integrates these two separate technologies (Internet and Telephones) to produce real-time multimedia communication services such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems. In addition, the ability of VoIP presenting information through voice plays a crucial role, more especially to those who do not have web visual access or those who are computer illiterate.

The liberalization of the telecommunications sector in South Africa has brought about vast improvement in the take-up and use of mobile telephony, however the opposite can be said of broadband penetration. As recently as 2012, there has been some degree of stagnation in fixed telephony and broadband access. This research report explores the evolution of broadband policy and regulation over the past decade, 2003-2012. Several themes from international trends are used, as guidelines of what an integrated, efficient broadband policy should address what governance and policy leadership is necessary for driving broadband policy initiatives across all spheres of government. The study proposes a conceptual framework that informs the analysis in comparing and contrasting the national broadband policy and plans, as well as provincial and local government’s policies and plans against desirable characteristics, such coordinated planning and implementation of broadband across government. The research analyses the current state of the country’s national broadband policy and plans across the three spheres of government. The analysis considers the contextual differences between the trends studied and the local data collected in the formal research phase, for the benefit of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the South African broadband plans. The conclusion focuses on the incentive structure needed to extend the development of the broadband ecosystem in terms of infrastructure, services, applications and user involvement in the country.

Thesis (M.M. (ICT Policy and Regulation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013.
Cannot copy abstract

This chapter assesses the status of e-government practice in Africa. It identifies the best and least e-government states and developing sub-regions and the challenges. Data on e-government practice in Africa by the United Nations was extracted and used for measuring the e-government status of selected African states and their sub-regions. Eastern and Central African Sub-Regions were respectively the best and the least among the regions, while Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Cape Verde, and Angola were the best e-government practicing states. The major impediments to e-government development were inadequately skilled ICT personnel and insufficient telecommunication infrastructure. Consequently, e-government development in many African states is likely to suffer terrible setbacks unless radical reformations are taken to address the issue of human resource underdevelopment and inadequate ICT infrastructure. Results of this survey could guide policy makers towards optimal manpower planning for effective ICT development.

This chapter explains the need to better design blended teaching and learning curricula, the need to address infrastructural problems, and the need to organise programmes so that faculty and students can better plan for unanticipated and unintended situations that confront them in the teaching and learning processes. Improving the quality of education through the diversification of content and methods and promoting experimentation, innovation, the diffusion and sharing of information, and best practices are among UNESCO’s recent strategic objectives in education. Discussions in this chapter centre on (1) the contexts of blended teaching and learning, (2) the barriers to blended learning usage, integration, and diffusion, and (3) the need to consider policy outcomes when evaluating blended teaching and learning resources. This study uses a qualitative research method, as both document materials and observation were an essential part of this chapter. This study concludes that the great enthusiasm around blended teaching and learning in sub-Saharan Africa has been dampened by inadequacies in essential services and infrastructures, such as electricity and telecommunication services, and institutional, socio-cultural, and economic barriers. Nonetheless, the development of blended teaching and learning resources continues.

NetTel@Africa (NetTel) is a transnational capacity development program focused on improving the policy and regulatory environment for the information communication technologies (ICT) and telecommunications (telecom) sectors. Originally, NetTel was developed as a programmatic response by USAID’s Leland Initiative to a request for human resource development by the Telecommunications Regulators Association of Southern Africa. NetTel is aligned with the USAID. During the development of the program, it became evident that an expansion of NetTel beyond the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region would greatly improve the quality of capacity development in formulating policies and regulation. Recently, NetTel has expanded to priority Western and Eastern African nations.

During the last 20 years, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have greatly provided a wealth of new technological opportunities, with the rapid deployment of both the Internet and cellular telephony leading the way (Sarkar De, 2005). ICTs can serve as potent agents of change (Yamuah, 2005). These technologies have invaded every country that is willing to accept and adopt them. The most important differentiating factor currently is policy. Policy makes a great difference regarding how countries are able to take advantage of the technological opportunities available to them and exploit them for good. Countries with progressive policies are seeing these technologies spread quickly. However, countries that are yet to formulate and integrate ICT policy have been plagued by slow growth of technology and the consequent lessening of support for economic and social development (Sarkar De, 2005).

As of June 2023, the percentage of Tanzanians who had access to a telephone was more than one hundred per cent. However, this has not always been so. For example, in 1997, there was a telephone density of 0.32 per cent. This average was much lower than those of neighbouring Kenya (0.92), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) (3.4), Asia (3.86), and Europe (35.36). Fast forward a little over twenty years and practically everyone in Tanzania now has access to a telephone. This chapter, among other things, argues that establishing favourable legislative and regulatory frameworks that encourage the competitive provision of telecommunication services has directly contributed to these developments. As a result, the chapter's primary argument is that the implementation of these frameworks has directly contributed to increased access to telecommunications services, which in turn has contributed to the achievement of the SDGs.

All countries in the world, are compelled to migrate their analogue terrestrial television systems to digital by the year 2015 as stipulated by the International Telecommunications Union. The old analogue transmission signals will be eventually switched off and so countries need to upgrade their television systems so that they can receive digital signals. This has necessitated government intervention in the form of policies or strategies to manage this transition process from analogue to digital. This chapter looks at the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television migration in South Africa. It considers South Africa’s Digital Migration Policy as a framework meant to advance the introduction of digital terrestrial television. Since the process is still in motion and we are looking at a start of a transition period towards the eventual cut-off date of analogue signals in 2015, there are therefore no definite conclusions about whether the South African case can be considered entirely successful. The effort of this chapter is merely to gauge the policy effort and rollout activities made thus far towards digital migration, highlighting potential drawbacks.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the bedrock for national survival and development in a rapidly changing global environment. Little wonder, every progressive country has a national IT policy and an implementation strategy to respond to the emerging global reality so as to tap from the numerous potential associated with these technologies. However, global reports and statistics reveal that women and girls are grossly underrepresented in the field of ICTs. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2013 reports that there are currently 200 million fewer women online than men, and this gap could grow to 350 million in three years. The report also reveals that globally women are coming online later and more slowly than men. Out of the world's 2.8 billion Internet users, only 1.3 billion are women. The report also states that women account for fewer than 20% of ICT specialists in developing economies and estimated that, by 2015, 90% of formal employment across all sectors will require ICT skills. The report additionally stated that 21% of women are less likely than their male counterparts to own a mobile phone – representing a mobile gender gap of 300 million. In Africa, only about half of the female population makeup the number of men connected to the internet. This gender divide calls for gender mainstreaming in respect of ICT policy. This chapter examines Nigeria Information Technology Policy and possible areas of encouraging gender mainstreaming in order to encourage and boost the ICT engagement for women empowerment. Thus, having looked at the Gender mainstreaming and Nigeria's IT policy this chapter concludes that there is need for the mainstreaming of the following areas in the IT policy, the issue of access particularly for women to help bridge the gap between men and women, the issue of establishing ICT training centers for women in the rural areas to train them on ICT skills.

There is ample evidence in the literature that developing countries would suffer the most from the adverse effects of climate change. Although, respective developing economies have dedicated action plans to mitigate or adapt to these adverse effects, financing for these strategies may be lacking or national governments may not commit financial resources to actualizing these strategies. Using a budget analysis and climate budget tagging framework, the chapter evaluates the financial resources the Nigerian government has committed to its adaptation strategies as stipulated in the 2011 National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change (NASPA – CCN). The study found out amongst others that government expenditure on climate change tends to be more of mitigation than adaptation. In addition, adaptation programs targeted at the industry, commerce, telecommunications, and transport sector are most neglected among other sectors highlighted as priority sectors in the NASPA – CCN policy.

This report maps the African landscape of Open Science – with a focus on Open Data as a sub-set of Open Science. Data to inform the landscape study were collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, desk research, engagement with a community of practice, networking with stakeholders, participation in conferences, case study presentations, and workshops hosted. Although the majority of African countries (35 of 54) demonstrates commitment to science through its investment in research and development (R&D), academies of science, ministries of science and technology, policies, recognition of research, and participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the following countries demonstrate the highest commitment and political willingness to invest in science: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to existing policies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the following countries have made progress towards Open Data policies: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Only two African countries (Kenya and South Africa) at this stage contribute 0.8% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to R&D (Research and Development), which is the closest to the AU’s (African Union’s) suggested 1%. Countries such as Lesotho and Madagascar ranked as 0%, while the R&D expenditure for 24 African countries is unknown. In addition to this, science globally has become fully dependent on stable ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, which includes connectivity/bandwidth, high performance computing facilities and data services. This is especially applicable since countries globally are finding themselves in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is not only “about” data, but which “is” data. According to an article1 by Alan Marcus (2015) (Senior Director, Head of Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries, World Economic Forum), “At its core, data represents a post-industrial opportunity. Its uses have unprecedented complexity, velocity and global reach. As digital communications become ubiquitous, data will rule in a world where nearly everyone and everything is connected in real time. That will require a highly reliable, secure and available infrastructure at its core, and innovation at the edge.” Every industry is affected as part of this revolution – also science. An important component of the digital transformation is “trust” – people must be able to trust that governments and all other industries (including the science sector), adequately handle and protect their data. This requires accountability on a global level, and digital industries must embrace the change and go for a higher standard of protection. “This will reassure consumers and citizens, benefitting the whole digital economy”, says Marcus. A stable and secure information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure – currently provided by the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) – is key to advance collaboration in science. The AfricaConnect2 project (AfricaConnect (2012–2014) and AfricaConnect2 (2016–2018)) through establishing connectivity between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), is planning to roll out AfricaConnect3 by the end of 2019. The concern however is that selected African governments (with the exception of a few countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and others) have low awareness of the impact the Internet has today on all societal levels, how much ICT (and the 4th Industrial Revolution) have affected research, and the added value an NREN can bring to higher education and research in addressing the respective needs, which is far more complex than simply providing connectivity. Apart from more commitment and investment in R&D, African governments – to become and remain part of the 4th Industrial Revolution – have no option other than to acknowledge and commit to the role NRENs play in advancing science towards addressing the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). For successful collaboration and direction, it is fundamental that policies within one country are aligned with one another. Alignment on continental level is crucial for the future Pan-African African Open Science Platform to be successful. Both the HIPSSA ((Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa)3 project and WATRA (the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly)4, have made progress towards the regulation of the telecom sector, and in particular of bottlenecks which curb the development of competition among ISPs. A study under HIPSSA identified potential bottlenecks in access at an affordable price to the international capacity of submarine cables and suggested means and tools used by regulators to remedy them. Work on the recommended measures and making them operational continues in collaboration with WATRA. In addition to sufficient bandwidth and connectivity, high-performance computing facilities and services in support of data sharing are also required. The South African National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System5 (NICIS) has made great progress in planning and setting up a cyberinfrastructure ecosystem in support of collaborative science and data sharing. The regional Southern African Development Community6 (SADC) Cyber-infrastructure Framework provides a valuable roadmap towards high-speed Internet, developing human capacity and skills in ICT technologies, high- performance computing and more. The following countries have been identified as having high-performance computing facilities, some as a result of the Square Kilometre Array7 (SKA) partnership: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. More and more NRENs – especially the Level 6 NRENs 8 (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and recently Zambia) – are exploring offering additional services; also in support of data sharing and transfer. The following NRENs already allow for running data-intensive applications and sharing of high-end computing assets, bio-modelling and computation on high-performance/ supercomputers: KENET (Kenya), TENET (South Africa), RENU (Uganda), ZAMREN (Zambia), EUN (Egypt) and ARN (Algeria). Fifteen higher education training institutions from eight African countries (Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania) have been identified as offering formal courses on data science. In addition to formal degrees, a number of international short courses have been developed and free international online courses are also available as an option to build capacity and integrate as part of curricula. The small number of higher education or research intensive institutions offering data science is however insufficient, and there is a desperate need for more training in data science. The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science aim at addressing the continental need for foundational data skills across all disciplines, along with training conducted by The Carpentries 9 programme (specifically Data Carpentry 10 ). Thus far, CODATA-RDA schools in collaboration with AOSP, integrating content from Data Carpentry, were presented in Rwanda (in 2018), and during17-29 June 2019, in Ethiopia. Awareness regarding Open Science (including Open Data) is evident through the 12 Open Science-related Open Access/Open Data/Open Science declarations and agreements endorsed or signed by African governments; 200 Open Access journals from Africa registered on the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); 174 Open Access institutional research repositories registered on openDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories); 33 Open Access/Open Science policies registered on ROARMAP (Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies); 24 data repositories registered with the Registry of Data Repositories (re3data.org) (although the pilot project identified 66 research data repositories); and one data repository assigned the CoreTrustSeal. Although this is a start, far more needs to be done to align African data curation and research practices with global standards. Funding to conduct research remains a challenge. African researchers mostly fund their own research, and there are little incentives for them to make their research and accompanying data sets openly accessible. Funding and peer recognition, along with an enabling research environment conducive for research, are regarded as major incentives. The landscape report concludes with a number of concerns towards sharing research data openly, as well as challenges in terms of Open Data policy, ICT infrastructure supportive of data sharing, capacity building, lack of skills, and the need for incentives. Although great progress has been made in terms of Open Science and Open Data practices, more awareness needs to be created and further advocacy efforts are required for buy-in from African governments. A federated African Open Science Platform (AOSP) will not only encourage more collaboration among researchers in addressing the SDGs, but it will also benefit the many stakeholders identified as part of the pilot phase. The time is now, for governments in Africa, to acknowledge the important role of science in general, but specifically Open Science and Open Data, through developing and aligning the relevant policies, investing in an ICT infrastructure conducive for data sharing through committing funding to making NRENs financially sustainable, incentivising open research practices by scientists, and creating opportunities for more scientists and stakeholders across all disciplines to be trained in data management.