Implementation and policy-making to optimise public access to ICT

The first study of its kind in Africa, this report provides information and advice to people who want to make sound software choices for public computer labs in Africa. The two-year study looked at the software environments in 121 public-access computer labs in Namibia, South Africa and Uganda. The findings examine the factors that affect software choices, the realities of the current situation in Africa, and the long-term implications of software choices for Africa, considering both ground- and policy-level issues.

A guide to free resources available to NGOs and businesses to use computers and the Internet

There is a wealth of free resources available for individuals, NGOs, and businesses to use computers and the Internet. The problem is finding out about them. This document provides a brief introduction to some of the most important resources, including where to get free or low cost computers, where to get free email accounts, how to develop and host your website for free, and where to get free software.

South African telecommunications policy-making is at a crossroads.  The path towards national economic growth and equitable development within the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector has been tortuous, given the difficult and sometimes conflicting tasks of liberalization. The critical question is how the government should approach changes in the telecommunications sector to foster the emergence of a globally competitive information economy in South Africa that will encourage the use of ICTs to improve people’s lives. 

An initiative of IICD and bridges.org

The bridges.org/IICD Case Study Series on ICT-Enabled Development sets out to illustrate how ICT contributes to development in Africa. The aim of this series is to help ground level initiatives imagine the possibilities of what can happen if they use ICT successfully to overcome development obstacles, and to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the digital divide.

An initiative of IICD and bridges.org

The bridges.org/IICD Case Study Series on ICT-Enabled Development sets out to illustrate how ICT contributes to development in Africa. The aim of this series is to help ground level initiatives imagine the possibilities of what can happen if they use ICT successfully to overcome development obstacles, and to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the digital divide.

An initiative of IICD and bridges.org

CASE STUDY: BusyInternet Accra

I. Overview

Initiative: BusyInternet (BI) Accra is the largest technology incubator in Africa. It provides businesses and the public with affordable, state-of-the-art information and communication technology (ICT) services, customer service, and a social environment that promotes technology use.