In a message dated 96-05-10 15:57:41 EDT, you write:
 
>Communiction is the foundation of technology and internet would be a good
>thing for African technologcal development. However, I think Africa needs
>basic infrastructure such as roads, simple telephone etc.more than it
>needs the internet. For those who know our continent,it may take you days
>from your home town/village to the capital city, and several hours/days
>before you have access to a telephone line. Therefore, internet cannot be
>a national priority at all because maybe 5% to 10% of the population
>would benefit from it and its influence in rural development would be
>insignificant. Nevertheless, internet is needed in Universites, research
>centers etc.
 
Although I have commented on this topic in the past, I must applaud what
Innocent has said here. I think it sort of sums up what all of us are saying.
Africa must be built from the bottom up and that 'bottom' is the basic
infrastructure he mentioned. The more salient question is IF and HOW
electronic communication can help that infrastructure development. And I say
electonic communication and not Internet because store & forward email is
alot more achievable in Africa that the sort of connection for Web surfing
that we who are in the West take for granted.
 
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