Policy Priorities to Connect Africa

Policy Priorities to Connect Africa

Adam DENTON

GSM Association, Mid City Place, London, WC1V 4EA, UK

Mobile communications have been truly transformational with over 3.5 billion people globally now having access to voice services using mobile technology. However, challenges remain, both in continuing to expand voice access and in delivering affordable mobile broadband services to bridge the digital divide.

To date, the mobile industry has invested over $40 billion into networks in Africa. In 2007 the industry committed to invest a further $50 billion by 2012 into mobile voice and data networks. For the social and economic benefits to be fully realised it is critical that governments provide an environment that supports this investment to ensure the economic and social benefits are fully realised. Inappropriate government tax policies, continued international gateway monopolies, poor spectrum planning, ineffective universal service management and unpredictable investment environments all increase the cost of ownership, reduce penetration and limit the economic and social potential of mobile.

A World Information Society report in 2007 stated “The debate over the future of the digital divide is now moving away from ‘quantity’ in basic connectivity and access to ICTs to measures of ‘quality’ and ‘capacity’, or speed of access”. The mobile industry is uniquely positioned to help bridge the digital divide with mobile broadband, but success will depend on government policies that support investment and competition.

Proceedings of M4D 2008, Karlstad University, Sweden – 3