TI-UP Briefing Note: ICTD and the digital divide in Africa – focus on infrastructure.

Abstract

This briefing report is written as a reference document for those seeking to gain an understanding of the 'digital divide' in Africa with a focus on ICT infrastructure. It is not intended as an academic, quantitative or exhaustive summary of ICT development in Africa, nor its history, and will only briefly touch-upon concurrent development and infrastructure issues associated with this sector (such as power supply). The report begins with an overview of the wider ICT development goals, provides examples of the problems facing the private ICT sector in Africa, and indicates the latest figures on infrastructure and finance. The final sections look at potential investment pathways in ICT infrastructure – highlighted with DFID-funded case studies – and ends with relevant declarations of the 2010 AU Summit.

This resource was produced by TI-UP – a DFID-funded resource centre for technology, infrastructure and urban planning, managed by IMC Worldwide Ltd.

Citation

Anon. TI-UP Briefing Note: ICTD and the digital divide in Africa – focus on infrastructure. TI-UP Resource Centre, London, UK (2010) 6 pp.

Published 1 January 2010