The United Nations’ Global Alliance for ICT and Development will launch “Connect Africa” initiative next month to bridge the digital divide and connect African countries with each other and the rest of the world. The United Nations, governments of various countries and the private sector are working to bring Africa’s 900 million inhabitants online.
The African continent is the fastest-growing cellular phone market of any region over the last five years, but has not been able to replicate that success with the Internet. Fewer than four out of every 100 Africans have access to the worldwide web. Connect Africa initiative aims to make Internet connectivity widely and cheaply accessible. Broadband service in Africa is three times higher than in Asia. Marketplace competition and private sector investment will lower the cost of Internet connectivity.
