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Digital Divide in Africa

In: The Global Digital Divides

Author

Listed:
  • James B. Pick

    (University of Redlands)

  • Avijit Sarkar

    (University of Redlands)

Abstract

Africa with over a billion population has the lowest overall use of information technologies among inhabited continents. Our exploratory conceptual model includes 18 independent factors that are posited to relate to six ICT use factors. Geographically, several nations in the northern tier of Mediterranean countries and South Africa and two island countries of Seychelles and Mauritius are at a moderate world ICT level, while the other 44 mostly sub-Saharan nations have low to very low levels. For the full sample, ICT laws are the dominant predictor of technology use. When the seven leading nations are excluded, gross national income is the dominant correlate and mobile tariffs is inversely associated with use of ICTs. This points to the more basic influence of affordability in the poorer nations. Two case studies the South African governmental role in ICT diffusion and of challenges of mobile telephony in Nigerian small enterprises are examined, relative to study findings. Suggestions on African policy are to improve openness, ICT laws, and regulations and foster relevant socio-economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • James B. Pick & Avijit Sarkar, 2015. "Digital Divide in Africa," Progress in IS, in: The Global Digital Divides, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 275-310, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:prochp:978-3-662-46602-5_9
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-46602-5_9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Emre Alper & Michal Miktus, 2019. "Digital Connectivity in sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Perspective," IMF Working Papers 2019/210, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Howell, Rachel & van Beers, Cees & Doorn, Neelke, 2018. "Value capture and value creation: The role of information technology in business models for frugal innovations in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 227-239.
    3. Setthasuravich, Prasongchai & Sirikhan, Kulacha & Kato, Hironori, 2022. "Spatial Econometric Analysis of the Digital Divide in Thailand at the Sub-District Level: Patterns and Determinants," 31st European Regional ITS Conference, Gothenburg 2022: Reining in Digital Platforms? Challenging monopolies, promoting competition and developing regulatory regimes 265668, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).

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