Information Society Watch

October 29, 2007, Richard Wray & Fahad Mayet, The Guardian

Reporting on the Connect Africa summit in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, the authors explore ways in which mobile phones may be used to aid development in Africa. A growing body of research finds that communications are an essential tool for economic regeneration, with telecommunications in particular harnessing the potential to impact GDPs and leading to an increase in foreign direct investment. The authors suggest that in the parts of sub-Saharan Africa that do not possess the infrastructure to support fixed landlines, the mobile phone has become an invaluable tool. They mention the farmers in Tanzania who use mobile phones to check weather reports and market prices for their crops before travelling and how those living in remote areas are now gaining access to medical advice via this technology. Yet, the authors are careful to highlight the need for an energy and power infrastructure that can support the roll-out of mobile phone networks in Africa.

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