The Impact of ICTs Diffusion on MDGs and Baroclinic Digital Learning Environments in East and Southern Africa

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) impact all the MDGs, especially in eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. The correlation between ICTs and high economic growth and education has not been well researched in most African countries. A learner is often inundated with massive volumes and different kinds of knowledge to learn from, i.e. learning vortices that are chaotic. Chaos theory is the qualitative study of unstable, aperiodic behaviour in deterministic, non-linear, dynamical systems, and from which the behaviour of the system is understood by reconstructing its attractor and gaining qualitative insight. The Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) online platform has digital learning objects that increase opportunities for teaching and learning, supports ubiquitous learning and provides intuitive ways for identifying learning collaborators, learning contents and learning services in the right place at the right time. The specific objectives of the research are:(a) To assess the impact of ICTs on MDGs(b) To ascertain the ICT impact on economic growth, innovations and education in East and Southern Africa(c) To explore the emerging trends in E-learning from ICTs for development(d) To apply Chaos Theory to design a digital learning environment with fully functional interactive e-learning facilities at Zimbabwe Open University.(e) To recommend a development model or a framework for economic growth for these African countries.The methodology used was largely qualitative on technology capacity needs assessment that covered 6 countries, and also quantitative on GDP and Infodensity covering 18 countries in East and Southern Africa.GDP and Infodensity data was collected for 18 African countries to ascertain the link between ICTs diffusion and GDP density per country. The case study for the establishment of the ZOU Online platform is presented and discussed to show the baroclinic and birfucation nature of the chaotic system, in order to design a completely functional digital learning environment. The mean for the 18 East and Southern African countries with respect to main telephone density is 3.8%, mobile subscribers is 27.87%, and internet use is at 4.87%. Capacity needs assessment included both the human capital development and social capital aspects in order to achieve sustainable information and communication technology capacity development. Human capital development is central to capacity needs. There is a strong correlation between ICT diffusion and high economic growth, evidenced by high mobile density. The mobile phone has become a good measure of wealth for an average African, and can be used in education. The solution to poverty and under-development in these African countries is, therefore, knowledge and economic empowerment. The recommended sustainable technology development with an African model is proposed. Chaos Theory offers tremendous opportunities for handling the complexity associated with the design of a fully interactive e-learning environment available online. The paper proved the correlation and potential application of Chaos Theory to the design model for digital learning environments. In the ZOU Online learning environment, it was established that learning objects can increase course interactivity, give students additional opportunities to interact with a variety of learning content, provide opportunitiesf or active learning, enrichment, and remediation, and offer practice with the content which students need to master

the case of Korea communications commission

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Public Policy,2012The globalization of technology coupled with the expanding world market size is changing the pace of technology adoption in developing countries. The collision of traditional mass media and telecommunication as a result of technology convergence presents opportunities as well as challenges to developing countries. A policy alternative that has been proposed for developing countries is the introduction of greater competition and unification of regulatory agencies for mass media and telecommunications. These policy responses, however, have implications for the development of indigenous communications industries, cultural preservation, national security, defense, and national development planning. This study therefore examines the policy implications of mass media and telecommunication convergence in developing countries in order to empirically determine the truth or otherwise of the claims that have dominated public debate. While some policy experts argue that effective communication convergence policies promote competition by opening up the market for new entrants, others believe that third world countries do not need competition. Secondly, as some policy experts recommend unification of regulatory institutions as a necessary condition for effective regulation, others do not see unification as a sufficient condition. They recommend proper coordination of institutions instead of mergers as ideal for developing countries to benefit from convergence. After an empirical study, the evidence seems to support the assertion that greater competition is useful to all countries, including less populous developing countries with low GDP per capita and low literacy rates. Again, the evidence supported the view that effective coordination between institutions for traditional mass media (newspaper, radio and Television) and the telecommunication media (telefax, landline telephone), instead of simple unification is the practical path for developing countries to benefit from communication convergence.Outstandingmasterpublishedby Ampoma Augustine

Evolution of telecommunications policy reforms in East Africa: Setting new policy strategies to anchor benefits of policy reform

This paper is a strategic evaluation of telecommunications policy reform over a ten-year period 1993-2002. The focus of the paper is the three countries of East Africa - Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The evaluation is framed against policy objectives set out by the three governments and their outcomes as measured against relevance to stakeholders, performance by implementers based on the space created by the reforms, and success in terms of sustainability and impact. The paper finds that the short term gains of fast expansion of the communications system cannot be sustained in the long term. The policy design based on foreign capital and skills at the expense of local entrepreneurial capacity building exposes the region to vulnerabilities of the international market. The policy design did not provide tools to intervene in the market in the consumer interest. A further finding is that competition has resulted in a significant consolidation of market power with a consequent shift of monopoly power from government to the private sector. Finally, in practice the private sector operations have increased the disparity in the distribution of the infrastructure between urban and rural consumers. A new policy design should focus on long-term local entrepreneurial capacity building, effective policy tools to sustain competition and universal service programmes to address rural disparity

Mobile Phone Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses how knowledge diffusion modulates the effect of the mobile phone on entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa with data for the period 2000-2012.The empirical evidence is based on interactive Generalised Method of Moments in which mobile phones are interacted with three knowledge diffusion variables, namely: education, internet penetration and scientific output. Ten variables of entrepreneurship are used. The following three main findings are established. First, the net effects from interacting mobile phones with the internet and scientific publications are negative whereas the corresponding net impact from the interaction between mobile phones and education is positive on the cost of doing business. Second, the mobile phone interacts with education (the internet) to have a positive (negative) net effect on the time needed to construct a warehouse whereas, the corresponding interaction with the internet yields a net negative effect on the time to enforce a contract. Third, there is a positive net effect from the interaction of mobile phones with education on the time to start a business. Given the construction of the education variable, the positive net effects from education are consistent with corresponding negative net effects from the other knowledge diffusion variables. The main policy implication is that mobile phone innovation (by means of internet penetration, scientific output and quality education) decreases constraints of entrepreneurship. Suggestions on how to boost these knowledge diffusion channels are discussed. Other practical and theoretical implications are also covered. To the best our knowledge, this is the first inquiry to assess the relevance of mobile phone innovation in entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mobile Phone Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses how knowledge diffusion modulates the effect of the mobile phone on entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa with data for the period 2000-2012.The empirical evidence is based on interactive Generalised Method of Moments in which mobile phones are interacted with three knowledge diffusion variables, namely: education, internet penetration and scientific output. Ten variables of entrepreneurship are used. The following three main findings are established. First, the net effects from interacting mobile phones with the internet and scientific publications are negative whereas the corresponding net impact from the interaction between mobile phones and education is positive on the cost of doing business. Second, the mobile phone interacts with education (the internet) to have a positive (negative) net effect on the time needed to construct a warehouse whereas, the corresponding interaction with the internet yields a net negative effect on the time to enforce a contract. Third, there is a positive net effect from the interaction of mobile phones with education on the time to start a business. Given the construction of the education variable, the positive net effects from education are consistent with corresponding negative net effects from the other knowledge diffusion variables. The main policy implication is that mobile phone innovation (by means of internet penetration, scientific output and quality education) decreases constraints of entrepreneurship. Suggestions on how to boost these knowledge diffusion channels are discussed. Other practical and theoretical implications are also covered. To the best our knowledge, this is the first inquiry to assess the relevance of mobile phone innovation in entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

Development Through Electronic Networks: Information and Communication Technologies in Africa

Developing countries and modern information and communication technologies (ICTs): How do they go together? This often-discussed, but rarely examined in detail topic is dealt with in this book, primarily on the basis of sub-Saharan Africa, a world region with considerable obstacles to development. The focus is on internet use, which is particularly prerequisite-rich. In fact, the hurdles for a development-promoting use of modern ICTs and especially the internet are still very high there. The results of the study, which is rich in material and for which research was also carried out on site, not only point to the potential of ICT for development, but also show that internet use in sub-Saharan Africa is already diverse and is currently developing dynamically. There are considerable opportunities and needs for an expansion of the information society in this region of the world, not only with regard to the fields that are the focus of the study (democratisation, economy, education and research). Proposals on how to react to this politically and promote development through networking form another focus of the volume

Investment in broadband and the emerging market structure in South Africa

This research study investigates the investments that have been made in broadband infrastructure in South Africa, with special focus on the impact on the broadband market made by ECA 2005 and subsequently the Altech judgement of 2008 (which unblocked infrastructure investment bottlenecks by ruling that Value Added Network Services (VANS) licensees were entitled to ECNS licences to build their own build infrastructure). The Altech judgment was a defining development of the South African telecoms sector, as it sounded the death knell to the dependence by VANS and other firms on wholesale infrastructure from the incumbent Telkom. The judgement, based on provisions of the ECA, was followed by heightened investment as firms, both MNOs and VANS, stepped up investment in self-provisioning infrastructure, thereby creating a period of intense facilities-based competition. The post-ECA and Altech judgement period coincided with the significant global market shift of fixed-to-mobile substitution, thereby dictating that the market structure that emerged in South Africa would be tilted towards the growth of mobile telephony, the latter becoming the foundation of mobile broadband through the emergence of next generation technologies of the smartphones and 3G and LTE. Through application of interpretive methods and qualitative analysis of published data and interviews with sector experts, research observations confirm that firms have lapped up the self-provision benefits of the post-2005 licencing regime and developed significant supply-side vertical capacities that have led to infrastructure duplications and competing network externalities. The resultant market structure appeared inefficient, with a high degree of concentration and equally high barriers to entry. This research used the investment calculus by Bauer (2010) as the applied method of analysis in order to develop a systematic analysis of investment decisions and firm behaviour. Due to significant capital outlays and expectations of return on investment (ROI) by firms competing in the broadband market, it follows that they have entrenched a rigid, costly wholesale interconnection market that has been immensely profitable for the firms, but has not passed benefits to new entrants and consumers. Whilst supply-side firms have refined capital investment strategies through application of real options, the subsequent market structure has been made less competitive due to inefficient regulatory interventions by ICASA, and the slow implementation of recommendations of SA Connect, the national broadband policy, leading to market inefficiencies and a widening digital divide

THE POTENTIALS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN IMPROVING AFRICA INFORMAL CROSS BORDER TRADE.

Context and background The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into businesses has become increasingly widespread in recent years, particularly in developed countries, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of entrepreneurship and innovation. AI presents numerous opportunities for small businesses, including those involved in cross-border trade. It has the potential to transform various aspects of business operations, such as customer interactions, marketing research, understanding consumer behavior, optimizing routes, and forecasting sales and marketing trends. Additionally, AI can contribute to the formalization of business processes, and assist these businesses in adapting more effectively to the ever-changing dynamics of the market. However, the successful implementation of AI necessitates a meticulous assessment of AI applications to ensure alignment with the objectives and resources of each individual small business. Goal and Objectives: The primary focus of this paper is to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing Africa's cross-border trade. The paper will address the following research questions: What are the effective applications of artificial intelligence in cross-border informal trade in Africa, and what are the limitations? What does the future hold for African countries in terms of utilizing artificial intelligence for cross-border trade? How can African informal cross-border traders and their stakeholders benefit from incorporating artificial intelligence in their activities? Methodology: The research is purely empirical research based on observation and measurement of phenomena, as directly experienced by the researcher. Results: AI can be effectively applied by Informal Cross-Border Traders (ICBT) to enhance their businesses and enhance competitiveness. There are several AI applications accessible to ICBT within their operational context. Although the adoption and utilization of AI in Africa are still in their infancy, there is considerable promise for the future. Africans must address the challenges hindering the adoption and utilization of AI, as technology is advancing rapidly, and opportunities await those who embrace it

Information infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Since the post-war period researchers have been pointing to a shift towards a new techno-economic paradigm. Whilst the macroeconomic impact of this powerful wave of technology has yet to be determined, it is sensed intuitively as being more important than generally suspected and to have major multiplier effects on national development. The convergence of information technology and modern communications has raised renewed hopes for enhancing national development in developing countries. At the same time, there are legitimate fears of increased marginalisation for those countries that fail to keep pace in the technological race. Grappling with the complexity involved in constructing an infrastructure that can improve their ability to achieve development objectives, and may lay the foundations for their future competitive advantage, few Sub-Saharan African countries have constructed a coordinated policy response to the complexities involved in creating an effective information infrastructure. Economically and politically fragile, and with only the promise of technological potentialities, the vast majority of African policy-makers are adopting a cautious approach. In the face of such a policy vacuum external actors such as multilateral development agencies, have taken it upon themselves to design, implement and fund initiatives with the idea of information infrastructure at their core. Such initiatives, whilst bringing much needed infrastructure to the region, are often short-termist in outlook and do not necessarily dovetail with local development objectives. If less developed countries and regions are to implement telecommunication networks and information services that will serve their interests, they must prioritise objectives that rest firmly in their particular economic, political, cultural and social context. Within a broad, multi-dimensional research schema, the research examines the main actors in the field of information infrastructure development in Africa. These are identified as development agencies, indigenous government and the foreign private sector. By articulating the respective roles of these actors and their spheres of influence, the research provides a coherent understanding of information infrastructure development activities within Sub-Saharan Africa. The research outlines a policy framework, which at both the conceptual and practical levels, argues that government plays the critical role in articulating national strategies for the coordination of disparate actors and scarce resources. The main contribution of the research is a practical policy framework that pinpoints priority areas for information infrastructure development within the Sub-Saharan Africa region