eGY-Africa: Better Internet connectivity to reduce the digital divide

Adoption of ICT and Internet access is expanding in Africa. But, due to more rapid growth elsewhere, a digital divide exists between Africa and the rest of the world. Recent investment in fibre cable networks in and around Africa opens the possibility of slowing the growth of this divide, and reducing it. Education and research in many sub-Saharan countries still suffer serious Internet deficiencies, despite progress in the development of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). It is widely acknowledged in policy statements from the African Union and others that strength in this sector is key to meeting and sustaining Millennium Development Goals. Countries with advanced cyber-capabilities proclaim the benefits to rich and poor alike arising from the information revolution. This is but a dream for many scientists in African institutions. As world science becomes Internet-dependent, they become increasingly isolated. eGY-Africa is a bottom-up initiative by African scientists and collaborators to address this problem by a campaign of advocacy for better institutional capabilities. The present status of Internet services, problems, and plans are being mapped via direct measurement of Internet performance via the PingER Project and a questionnaire-based survey. Information is gathered on relevant policy statements and initiatives and used to argue for better Internet facilities. Action groups of concerned scientists are being formed at the national and regional levels in Africa and opinion in the international science community is being mobilized. Finally, eGY-Africa is engaging with other programs, initiatives, and bodies with the goal of reducing the digital divide - either directly or indirectly as a step towards other national development goals. The expectation is that informed opinion from the scientific community at the institutional, national, and international levels can be used to influence the decision makers and donors who are in a position to enabl e better Internet capabilities.