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FACTORS LIMITING ACCESS IN AFRICA

FACTORS LIMITING ACCESS IN AFRICA. ASHOK.B.RADHAKISSOON Barrister at Law General Counsel and Public/Regulatory Affairs Liaison. ACCESS. The single most important issue to most people, in particular in developing countries. ACCESS. Access to the Internet must be (I) AVAILABLE

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FACTORS LIMITING ACCESS IN AFRICA

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  1. FACTORS LIMITING ACCESS IN AFRICA ASHOK.B.RADHAKISSOON Barrister at Law General Counsel and Public/Regulatory Affairs Liaison

  2. ACCESS • The single most important issue to most people, in particular in developing countries.

  3. ACCESS • Access to the Internet must be (I) AVAILABLE (II) AFFORDABLE

  4. ACCESS • Ensuring that people(s) integrate the Information Society and more importantly empowering them to be productive in the e-conomy

  5. ACCESS • Access unevenly distributed across and within countries.

  6. Concept of Access • Only an infrastructural issue?? • Quality • Content • Affordability • Availability

  7. ACCESS • “infrastructural access…of little use to end users if access to content(poses the problem of multilingualism)and services and the level of prices was not included in the concept and discussion of access”

  8. ACCESS • “The importance of open standards in maintaining the openness of the Internet , fuelling innovation and supporting the rapid diffusion of new services and technologies.”

  9. Access Introduction of competition and the removal of blocks to competition were of fundamental importance • Removal of monopolies • Licensing of new players • Establishment of interconnection regimes to reinforce competitive market • Universal Service

  10. Role of Government • Creating an enabling environment • Provision of such infrastructure services as electricity • Access to other government services-health,education

  11. Technology • New wireless technologies • Regulatory issues-spectrum allocation/ management, technology neutral licensing, wireless technology standards • Refarming /efficient use

  12. Access Limiting factors • Legislation/Policy • Technology • Cost • Lack of Competition • Language • Regulatory barriers to access to new technologies

  13. Access Limiting factors • Investment-rural access • Expensive International bandwidth • Pro-Incumbent policies • Scarcity of trained human resources • Geographical factors-Size,landlockedareas,topography

  14. Reflections • Lack of access=growing digital divide • Access a fundamental right?? • Freedom of expression and the use of the internet • IPRs as a barrier to access-more flexibility for innovation • Access to the Internet=strengthening democracy.

  15. Thank you.

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