Mobile Internet and Mobile Internet and Telecommunications in Telecommunications in

AfricaAfrica

Presented by Belcha AgesaPresented by Belcha AgesaD61/70228/2009D61/70228/2009

IntroductionIntroduction Mobile internet refers to gaining access to Mobile internet refers to gaining access to

the Internet using a lightweight, handheld the Internet using a lightweight, handheld device, such as a PDA or cell phone.device, such as a PDA or cell phone.

Telecommunications is defined as the Telecommunications is defined as the science and technology of the science and technology of the communication or messages over a communication or messages over a distance, especially using electric, distance, especially using electric, electronic or electromagnetic impulses; electronic or electromagnetic impulses; systems used in transmitting messages systems used in transmitting messages over a distance electronically over a distance electronically

Mobile InternetMobile Internet Mobile cellular phone is the mostly used

medium of communication. Affordability, mobility and easy use favor

mobile cellular technology. So far, in Africa, the mobile phone is used

only rarely to access the Internet, also due to its slow speed of (9.6 kbps) available through GSM.

But 3g is coming up in most parts and promising good speeds.

Why poor Why poor quality Internet Services Internet Services

Infrastructural shortcomings, Low Internet bandwidth, Unreliable electricity, Outdated end-user technology, Interconnectivity issues, Large software solutions or The small number of 18 African

Internet Exchange Points

Internet UsageInternet Usage

BroadbandBroadbandFixed broadbandFixed broadband Fiber meant to offer this. The East Fiber meant to offer this. The East

African Submarine Cable System African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), TEAMS, SEACOM etc(EASSy), TEAMS, SEACOM etc

Wireless broadbandWireless broadband The hope since fixed has failed. 2 The hope since fixed has failed. 2 G

or 2.5 G (GSM/GPRS), 3 G -UMTS. WiMAX. EDGE and EV-DO

Broadband SubscribersBroadband Subscribers

Kenyan Statistics: 2009

Source http://www.internetworldstats.com/af/ke.htm

ConclusionConclusionObviously, Africa has still great Obviously, Africa has still great potential to improve its potential to improve its telecommunications usage and telecommunications usage and infrastructure deploymentinfrastructure deploymentWhat has pinned it down:What has pinned it down:1.1. Prohibitively high tariffsProhibitively high tariffs2.2. Limited computer literacyLimited computer literacy3.3. Government regulationsGovernment regulations

ReferencesReferences

WebsitesWebsites www.itu.comwww.itu.com www.internetworldstats.comwww.internetworldstats.com http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents. http://www.itu.int/partners/

index.html.

Thank you