Bridging an African digital divide (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Marc Cieslak
Reporter, BBC Click

Many of us take the internet for granted, but what about locations that are too remote or economically impoverished to enjoy the hi-tech benefits of the developed world?

The coastal town of Knysna in South Africa was one such place. But now it is the largest wi-fi enabled area on the African continent.

Working in conjunction with the town's local authorities, internet provider UniNet has set up a system of base stations which spread wi-fi around the town.

"UniNet was founded on some principles which we derived from the South African government's green paper on telecommunications," said the company's David Jarvis.

"Our goal is largely to see our technologies and our services bridging the divide between rural and urban areas."
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/6983397.stm

Related posts: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1778942&mesg_id=1778942

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1787634&mesg_id=1787634

Mods: I can't believe I just now noticed there is no "Africa" forum. With posts on the DRC war, elections in various countries, environmental topics, etc., perhaps a forum which gathers African issues under one banner would be appropriate ...

(I am not an "expert" on anything African, and have no personal or professional connection to events in Africa, but perhaps others with more to contribute will chime in ...)

[Redstone]

1. Uh, don't you think they'd put priority on things like enough food and clean water

before worrying about if they have Internet access? I mean, if they're "economically impoverished" areas, maybe the concentration ought to be on developing some JOBS rather than wi-fi networks?

Just a thought.

Redstone

[tabatha]

2. water in South Africa

They probably have cleaner water in South Africa than here.
And there has been a water program in South Africa for a long time -

The programme is globally recognised as one of the most outstanding environmental conservation initiatives on the continent. It enjoys sustained political support for its job creation efforts and the fight against poverty.
http://www.dwaf.gov.za/wfw/

http://www.wrc.org.za/

http://www.unesco.org/courier/1999_02/uk/dossier/txt23.htm

[Maq]

3. The internet is only an extra EYE into ideas and things elsewhere

In my opinion cultural isolation fosters the development of a dogmatic approach to problems.
Things along the idea that what was good for my grandfather is goood enough for me.

The extra "eye" shows the person, say in Africa, that there may be other ways of looking at or solving a problem. Further, economically impoverished peoples must depend on others , be a government or capitalist, to develop jobs. Their impoverishment retards their educational attainment which would impact their business or job opportunities.

The internet is TOOL. Why feed them a fish. Let then teach themselves HOW to FISH.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. I tend to be skeptical about high-tech bandaids on bleeding wounds, but ...

there does appear to have been some careful thought behind this, and they are only trying to establish a minimal connectivity. Most people still have to go to a school or library to get any kind of Internet access at all, but that is a huge step up from having no access, and it does wonders for eradicating ingorance and enhancing education. You don't have to give computers or mobiles to everyone ... just a few can have a catalytic effect.


"A 2005 study showed that an increase of 10 mobile phones per 100 people could increase GDP growth by 0.6%."

[Redstone]

5. I understand what you're saying. It's kind of like back in the 1980s when one of my

customers was SR Telecom...back then one of their major products was a telephone on a metal pole with a solar panel on top.

The idea was that a village in, for example, Bangladesh, could afford ONE phone for the village, even though the individual villagers couldn't afford a phone of their own. And, if I recall, that was one of the popular "small businesses" that Grameen Bank made loans for (ad maybe they still do); one enterprising woman would use the loan to buy a cellphone, and pay the loan back by charging her neighbors to use it.

I appreciate you posting that reply; you've given me a better understanding of the purpose and scope of the project. I rescind my criticism and replace it with my approval, thanks to your clarification.

Thank you again.

Redstone

[eppur_se_muova]

6. That's what I like about DU ... sometimes you get a gracious response instead of an argument!

(Not that you'd have to agree with me to be gracious, just nice to participate in a civil discussion instead of a slamfest.) :)

[Redstone]

8. Hey, I don't know how well you know me, but I can tell you that, although

I've been known to tear strips off people if I think they're being idiotic (and I will likely continue to do so), I am probably more open than 98% of the people out there to changing my mind or admitting I was mistaken when someone gives me a good reason why I should do so.

That always astonishes people, especially given that it's one of those "guy things" to never admit that your opinion about anything might be well-served by some modification in the face of facts.

Redstone

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I believe there is a "South Africa" forum.

edit: I was wrong. There is no South Africa forum.