As Africa Internet penetration lags, experts suggest ways to spur broadband growth

In the wake of a U.N. survey highlighting poor Internet access in a swath of sub-Saharan African countries, industry insiders say government policies can go a long way toward spurring connectivity and infrastructure development. A recent survey by the U.N. Broadband Commission reported that eight of the 10 countries with the lowest levels of Internet availability in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa. The eight countries are Ethiopia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea and South Sudan. Internet penetration in all eight countries is less than 2 percent od the population. Some 2.9 billion people, or 40 percent of the global population, are expected to be online by the end of 2014 and 50 percent by 2017, according to the report. But Internet penetration in Africa remains low, with just few countries reaching the 40 percent mark. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here