Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Outlineofpresentation• Post-colonialAfricanreadinessforICT• Theroleofinfrastructurewithanexample• IntroductionofInternetinAfricancountries• Morerecentprogress• Somelessonslearned• Somesourcesforhistoricalmaterial• Caveats– ViewsaremypersonalviewsandnotnecessarilytheviewsofanyorganizationwithwhichIamorhavebeenassociated
– Viewsarebasedlargelyonpersonalexperience
2
Infrastructureissues
• Lackofallcomponentsofbasicinfrastructure– Surfacetransport–pavedhighwaysandrailroads– Humanskillsandknowledge–informationpoverty– Educationalfacilities,universities,libraries– Professionalandtechnical(people)networks– Integrationintoglobalgroups;knowledgetransfer– Electricpowergenerationanddistribution
• Inlateryears(1990s),resistancetochange– PTTsfearedlossofrevenue– Governmentsfearedunknowndisruptiveforces
3
Ecosystemissues
• PTTsthreatenedbycompetition• Regulatorsnotpreparedfornewtechnology• Colonialinfrastructurepatternsdominated• Small,undeveloped,informalmarkets• Coloniallegacyleftdifficultenvironmentalconditions
4
InitialNetworkingEfforts
• Methodsdependeduponglobalstateoftechnicalprogressandlocalinfrastructure
• Telex• Storeandforward:FidoNet,UUCP,BitNet• LEOSatellites:HealthNet• Earlypackettransmission:X25• Internetovertelephonecircuits• Permanent(routed)connections
5
Example:Rwandain1980
• 1980:FirstcomputerarrivesinRwanda• Installationdifficulties!• Frustrationandfailure• Theenemyidentified:InformationPoverty
6
1980:Centred’InformatiqueduRwanda
•
7
Fastforwardtothelate‘80s…
• (Micro-)ComputerspopulateAfrica• Networksbegintoappear• NGOsneededandpromotednetworks• Storeandforward:InitiallyUUCPandFidoNet• HealthNet’sLEO(lowearthorbitingsatellite)• RoleofSouthAfricanuniversities• InternetchampionsforAfricaemerge
8
SomeInternetchampionsforAfrica
•
9
Milestonesofthe‘90s
• 1992++:ISOC’sINETtrainingworkshops• 1995-6:U.S.LelandInitiative• 1996++:INETtraininginFrench• 1996:ActionsessioninMontréal• 1997:AISIinitiative• 1998:ImportantmeetinginCotonou
-BirthplaceofAfriNIC
10
InternetConnectivity1998(courtesyMikeJensen)
25
….Timbuktuin1999
26
Since1999,muchhashappened
• Alotofprogress– Hugeincreasesinconnectivityandaccess– Mobile,search,socialnetworking,Internet2.0– IncreasingrecognitionofwhatInternetGovernanceis
• ButseriousproblemsemergeintheIGspace– Internetgovernanceisnotinternetadministration – Allhumanbehavior,includingbad,isonInternet– ‘Networksecurity’hasemergedasaverymajorissue– Somenewappsfacilitateharmfulbehavior– ….andmanymoreproblemareastoaddress
27
Somelessonslearned?• Stronganddurableinstitutionsmatter• Investmentinskillsandknowledgeiscrucial– InbothtechnicalandInternetGovernancesubjects
• Globalnetworkingconnectionyieldimportantandeffectivetransferofskillsandknowledge
• Educationofgovernmentofficialsiscritical• Adoptionofinformedpoliciescanyieldsignificanteconomicandsocialbenefits
• Blockingrealitydoesn’twork;guideitwithgoodpolicy– Needtotakeunanticipatedconsequencesseriously– Empowerlegalsystemtorespondtonewchallenges
28
SourcesofHistoricalMaterial• Materialisfragmented,informal
– Librarianscallthis“fugitivematerial”• InternetSocietywebsite• Wikipedia• OSRC,UniversityofOregon,SteveHuter• Variousoralhistories,recorded• Earlymeetingproceedingsandattendeelists• Personalknowledgebypioneers• Importanttocapturefromprimarysourceswhiletheyare
stillavailable• Lotsofopportunitytocontributetoanauthoritative
historicalrecordoftheInternetinAfrica
29
31
