Better internet infrastructure 'could help Africa develop'

26 October 2010

Africa has to improve its internet infrastructure in order to improve its chances of progress, one expert has claimed.

Kunbi Oguneye, chief executive of Nigerian Internet solutions provider Suburban Telecom, told the Sowetan: "Broadband is critical to development in Africa."

He pointed to the lack of ground infrastructure - in terms of fibre optic cables - as a major challenge to delivering effective internet to homes and businesses.

In the last two year's Mr Oguneye has seen wholesale internet connectivity increase by more than 800 per cent - although broadband penetration in Nigeria is still only at two per cent.

He was speaking at the Infrastructure Projects Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and among the other issues debated were transport, water and sanitation, and renewable energies programmes.

It comes after the African Development Bank approved a loan worth $50 million (£31.53 million) that will see the continent's information communication technology infrastructure improved.
 

Category: ICT