Libya Rolls Out WiMax with a High Price Tag

By Kato Mivule

BBC Reported how Libya's main ISP made inroads with a roll out of WiMax Services in Libya. However, interestingly, Libya earns revenues from Oil sales and did make some 'good money' with the high prices of Oil before the current economic crisis. Information Technology seems to be a place for investment.

WiMax does not rely on sometimes poor conventional wire infrastructure. Libya's only internet service provider is launching its first commercial wireless network which it says is one of the most advanced in the world. The state-owned firm said only a handful of countries have rolled out the advanced internet connection known as WiMax on such a wide scale. Libya Telecom and Technology aims to start with WiMax coverage, including a mobile feature, in 18 cities. Africa is seen as a potentially huge market for WiMax technology...The WiMax network is meant to do away with all these hurdles and bridge the digital divide, making the internet available to people across the country.
Libya's wireless web access leap - BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7845905.stm

Already Libya has begun moving beyond it's borders by buying shares in Uganda Telecom, one of Uganda's main Telecom providers. WiMax is answer to many of Africa's poor neighborhoods unlikely to get 'connected' because of poor infrastructure.

However, there are still logistical problems like how to make WiMax equipment accesible to all and also reduction in Prices. Connectivity is overly priced in Africa. While there is a sense of relief that Africa is getting 'connected', yet the Technologies are only accesible to a selected few rich and elites who can afford the price tag.

India Not Left Behind in Scramble For Africa

By Kato Mivule

Interestingly, India has had business operations within Africa for many years but seems now to be awakened by China's $100 Billion investment in Africa. India now plans a massive $100 Billion investment in Africa for the next five years. India will also focus much of the investment in Information Technology and mining included.

India’s trade with Africa soared from $967 million in 1991 to $35 billion in 2008, but remains way behind China’s nearly $100 billion.... New Delhi: “India expects to triple trade with Africa over the next 5 years to reach $100 billion,” officials said, as it tries to strengthen ties in a region where Asian rival China has made rapid inroads. Despite an economic slowdown, India is planning a slew of projects in agriculture, small industry, mining, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), oil pipelines, chemical industry, power generation and transmission among others.
LiveMint.com
http://www.livemint.com/2009/01/21144935/India-plans-to-triple-trade-wi.html

Both China and India are in a rush for mineral resources in Africa. However, one wonders what all this means for the African Nations. What is their 'say' in matters of an independent Information Systems Infrastructure, if there is anything at all like that in Africa? Who will call the shorts and what regulations will be in place to protect individual nations.

Information Systems Infrastructure are part and parcel of any nation's Sovereignty today and what measures have African Leaders in place to protect their Information Systems while at the same time allowing business growth that should be focused at improving the livelihood of local people.

India and China are both 'businessmen' and no doubt simply concerned with Mineral Resources they can exploit from Africa so as to cover the needs of their growing populations. China has been one of the greatest culprits when it comes to 'Dumping' bogus third grade good in Africa.

Many Ugandan Business Men for instance are lamenting the very poor quality of goods being 'Dumped' in Kampala by Chinese Businesses. A business man in Kampala cannot make returns off shoes imported from Italy as a Chinese business man in Kampala imports a 'third grade' copycat counterfeit product while being protected by the local government.

What assurances have Africans that the Chinese "I.T. Investments" won't be a junk I.T. Infrastructure?

Many African leaders are caught up in the mentality of "Beggars have no choice"...and "the Investor is King".... However, we have to Rivals who both want to give to the "beggar"...so why not set prerequisites? In this case the"Beggar" might very well have a Choice...

Uganda to Host Global IT Outsourcing Expo?

By Kato Mivule

Reports are that Uganda will host a 'Global IT Outsourcing Expo'...with purpose of course aimed at attracting Investors to Uganda with jobs from the West. However, Global economics seem to dictate otherwise....

Kampala, Uganda — Uganda may soon turn into a centre for hosting international and regional conferences and trade fairs. Among the many conferences it has hosted since CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in November 2007, Uganda will host an international trade expo in business and professional services come March 2009. The expo will be the first of its kind in Africa and in the developing countries. The focus of the expo will be promotion of trade in services and increasing visibility of the services trading firms in the country, region and on the international scene. Amos Tindyebwa, the Executive Director Uganda Trade and Business Development Centre (TBDC) said the expo is expected to attract over 2,000 companies and enterprises worldwide in areas of business process outsourcing (BPO), call centre services, website hosting, data centre hosting, help desk services, aviation, media and communication, banking and insurance, tour and travel among others.
Uganda: Kampala to Host Global IT Outsourcing Expo
http://allafrica.com/stories/200901191404.html

Many countries are going into a 'Protectionism' frenzy and fearing the backlash of their own citizens, they will push to preserve jobs in their own countries. However, it will be a good PR for Uganda once again to have such high profile meeting.

The best Uganda can do is show case her own Technological Advancements, if any, and what they can offer to the rest of Africa in terms of Information Technology so as to capture a sizable chunk of the African Market.

I don't think that we are going to see a flood of investors setup Call Centers allover Uganda, those days are largely gone with the current economic down turn. However, this is another platform that Uganda and use to show case her I.T advancements.

China To Invest in Information Technology in Uganda

By Kato Mivule

China is reported to be set to invest 75 Million US Dollars in Uganda with a large portion going towards Information Technology according to Ugandan Press...

In Uganda earlier this week, Yang signed agreements on foreign assistance totaling about $75 million, the largest portion for information technology projects. Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa said the countries have also discussed construction of a railway line from Uganda to neighboring southern Sudan.
China's Foreign Minister Wrapping Up Africa Tour
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-16-voa42.cfm

Interesting move by China not only to maneuver politically in competition for Africa's Rich Mineral resources but China seems bet at having a say at the flow of information in Africa...especially when it comes to reporting China's "dealings" in Africa...

Taking Science to the Marketplace?

Kato Mivule

African Union Leaders are on the right track to find innovative ways to implement Africa's own "grown" (though largely the seeds are not ours...) Technologies...

But in January 2008, African Union (AU) heads of state finally adopted an action plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa. The plan, known as Aida (which incidentally is Kiswahili for reward), is jam-packed with initiatives to improve the commercial uptake of research results. And next month (January 2009) a strategy for implementing it will be presented to the AU presidential summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There is plenty of synergy between Aida and the Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) for science development, which African science ministers adopted in 2005. For example, both support creating African ‘centres of excellence’ in scientific research, and increasing countries’ science spending to 1 per cent of gross domestic product. But where the CPA aims to generate useful science, Aida focuses on bringing it to the market. It outlines an African Technology Innovation Initiative that will create African networks to design, test and certify products, support businesses and transfer technology.
Business & Technology | December 28, 2008
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sun_business/Taking_science_to_the_marketplace_77399.shtml

However, it is interesting to note how it has become of importance for Africa to find Technological Solutions that work and can be implemented and also leaders taking the initiative to create Markets within Africa for these solutions...