Global Diffusion of the Internet VI: The Internet in Togo

The Global Diffusion of the Internet (GDI) framework is used to examine Internet diffusion in Togo along six dimensions: Pervasiveness, Geographical Dispersion, Sectoral Absorption, Connectivity Infrastructure, Organizational Infrastructure, and Sophistication of Use. The Internet in Togo originated in the private sector in 1996. In the years that followed, the Togolese Internet grew at a slower rate than the Internet in many other countries over the same period of time. After examining how each dimension evolved, this study concludes, amongst many suggestions, that the Togolese government should encourage more telecommunication infrastructure development by allowing private companies to utilize Togo Telecom\u27s network

Introducing the Global Diffusion of the Internet Series

While there is no shortage of commentary on the nature and impact of the Internet, a deep understanding of this phenomenon and its diffusion must go beyond the collection of factoids, such as the number of hosts and users, to capture the context within which the Internet evolves. This paper introduces a CAIS series entitled The Global Diffusion of the Internet, which seeks to promote research efforts that contribute to our understanding of the diffusion of the Internet throughout the world, that create and apply analytic frameworks that permit comparative analyses, and that capture the rather perishable history of the Internet as it unfolds. Contributions by scholars from parts of the world that are under-represented among the AIS membership are particularly encouraged

The Internet in Turkey and Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis

The Global Diffusion of the Internet Project was initiated in 1997 to study the diffusion and absorption of the Internet to, and within, many diverse countries. This research has resulted in an ongoing series of reports and articles that have developed an analytic framework for evaluating the Internet within countries and applied it to more than 25 countries. (Seehttp://mosaic.unomaha.edu/gdi.html for links to some of these reports and articles.) The current report applies the analytic framework to compare and contrast the Internet experiences of Turkey and Pakistan, through mid-2000. Although historically these countries have not been closely related, there are significant parallels between the two that make them well suited for a comparative study of the absorption of the Internet. Turkey and Pakistan are among the largest non-Arab Muslim countries in the world. In contrast to most of their Arab counterparts, their governments were founded as secular, parliamentary democracies. Both countries have had stormy political histories, however, with periodic coups and authoritarian governments. Each country has firmly entrenched bureaucracies with closed and, to varying degrees, corrupt processes

Global Sourcing of IT Services and Information Security: Prudence before Playing

This paper calls for awareness of the risks in global sourcing of IT and IT-enabled services. It calls for appropriate assessment and mitigation of these risks. The authors identify ways in which global sourcing (often called offshoring) increases information security exposures and strategies for managing such risks

Global Diffusion of the Internet - I: India: Is the Elephant Learning to Dance?

With his proclamation in 1998 that IT is India\u27s tomorrow , Prime Minister Vajpayee captured a vision of a 21st century India substantially different from that of the previous century, with its high levels of poverty, bloated bureaucracies, and protectionist policies. He envisioned the new India as a major IT power, fully integrated with the global economy, bringing about substantial domestic and international benefit. The Internet is a key to this vision, both as an enabler of technology-based change, and as an indicator of the vision\u27s fulfillment. Using an analytic framework developed by the authors and others, this study documents the growth of the Internet in India, from the pre-Internet networks through the boom of the Internet from 1998 to 2003. The Indian experience provides an example of how fundamental, focused changes in policy and legislation can unleash forces that accelerate Internet diffusion. Private sector initiatives greatly expanded the Internet infrastructure and Internet services market. At the same time, Government initiatives promoted the expansion of the Internet into parts of the country not well served by private ISPs. Poverty and limited telecommunications infrastructure currently limit the rate and extent of Internet expansion. However, time is an ally; the basic elements for continued growth of the Internet are largely in place

Privacy and Security Concerns Associated with Mobile Money Applications in Africa

The rapid adoption of mobile money use in Africa raises concerns regarding the privacy and security of users, particularly in light of Financial Action Task Force recommendations requiring user transparency and the collection of transaction data. The transparency required of the now-financially-included—particularly in nations with weak adherence to the rule of law and limited privacy protections—leaves users vulnerable to abuse. Further, the increasing complexity of mobile phone use that is indicative of mobile money applications raises concerns regarding Africa’s preparedness for heightened security threats that come hand in hand with increased use. To address these problems, the authors of this Article recommend specific policy actions by African nations to improve consumer privacy and cybersecurity, supported by policies of industrialized nations like the United States and responsible corporate behavior

Scientific Computing in the Soviet Union

In the last decade, the Soviet Union has placed increased emphasis on the development of high-speed computers and networks for use in scientific, economic, and military applications. When Communist Party General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev labeled supercomputer development a top priority task for our science and economy in April, 1987, he added new urgency to the production of machines that would both support activities in these applications and also serve as high-profile standard-bearers for perestroika, his program of restructuring and modernization for the nation. The Soviets have also undertaken some major projects in networking, including the creation of a nationwide packet-switched network for the Academy of Sciences, work on network access to databases on scientific literature, and local area networks at a number of institutes

A Case Study of Electronic Commerce in Nepal

The authors conducted a study of the state of the Internet and telecommunication in Nepal during January, 2000 (ITU, 2000). Part of our charge was to recommend electronic commerce projects that would generate hard currency and increase social and geographic equity and increase rural employment. We present background on Nepal, a statement of our charge, ecommerce alternatives and our conclusions