The Development of Internet in Eastern and Southern Africa

The Development of Internet in Eastern & Southern Africa

The Information Society is quickly penetrating Africa. This communication and information system linked to Internet benefit thousands of people in various sectors of the economy. Unfortunately, most of the Research & Education community is left apart from the Internet bandwagon although they were pioneering electronic communication (email) in many African countries.

An appropriate global approach is needed to develop and strengthen the local capacity within the non-for-profit users to access and contribute to global information. This will enable African scientists to contribute more efficiently to sustainable economic progress and participate actively in local and global developmental and environmental challenges.

To reach this objective, awareness campaigns are essentials at all levels, from grassroots potential beneficiaries up to policy and decision makers.

GONDWANA specifically addresses these issues. In 1995-96, GONDWANA has sensitised more than 3000 potential users of Telematics through information seminars in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. In the same time, GONDWANA has trained and connected about 350 scientists at about 70 pilot institutions chosen by international organisations in the framework of a networking grant. In 97-98, GONDWANA is continuing its sensitisation campaigns in Southern African countries.

The multimedia presentation includes up-to-date information on the development of Internet in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The information on Eastern African countries is updated via the GONDWANA country collaborators. The surveys cover the history of electronic communication in each country, the network penetration and its accessibility in remote areas, the quality and pricing of the services offered by the email/Internet providers, the attitude of the PTOs regarding Internet as well as the political environment and future trends. The presentation concludes by the still existing constrainsts in the region to the development of public internetworks and proposes various solutions to by-pass these obstacles.

by Dr Paul Godard & Mrs Petra Vandecasteele.
GONDWANA, The Art of Internetworking Global Information

Gondwana, the Art of Internetworking Global Information

Gondwana@samara.co.zw -- Gondwana@harare.iafrica.com
http://www.biol.ucl.ac.be/gondwana/Gondwana.html

Africa Regional Representation
6 Nyangare-Tsungo close, Ballantyne Park, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel/Fax: 263+4-885031

European Secretariat - GONDWANA ASBL/NGO
178 Stationsstr., B-6340 Damme
Tel: 32+50-352516 -- Fax: 32+50-370586