Broadband to 'change lives of millions in east Africa'

23 June 2009

Broadband is set to transform the lives of millions of people in east Africa, it has been claimed.

Having been one of the only populated areas in the world up until now not to have broadband access to the world wide web, residents in countries such as Kenya and Sudan have previously had to rely on satellite links.

Last week, Kenya's president Mwai Kibaki plugged in a fibre-optic submarine cable that should speed up the connection of Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda - as well as some parts of Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia - to the online community.

According to the Economist, those who are in favour of the advancements believe it will change residents' lives nearly as much as the introduction of mobile phones has done.

It added: "All the more so because of the parlous state of east Africa's more old-fashioned infrastructure, especially roads and railways."

The newspaper concluded the new cable will compete with a further two that will possibly be implemented later this year.

Category: ICT