[ecrea] Call for papers - Development of ICT in Africa

Call for papers



Communications &Strategies



Dossier to be published in no. 86 – 2nd quarter 2012



Development of ICT in Africa



Edited by Laurent GILLE, Anders HENTEN, Robin MANSELL & Didier POUILLOT



ICTs can be seen as systemic tools for economic and social development.

This has been acknowledged for decades in Africa – first with respect to 
telecommunications and later with respect to information and 
communication technologies (ICT) generally. Lately, much emphasis has 
been given to the many different social applications of ICT such as 
e-learning, e-health, e- governance, etc.



For many years nothing much happened concerning telecommunications and 
ICT development in Africa. However, over the last decade mobile 
communication has developed rapidly in Africa providing the basis for 
voice communication and, increasingly, for a growing variety of data 
communications services.



This call for papers seeks contributions on experiences regarding the 
development of telecommunications and especially mobile communications, 
the adoption and use of ICTs, and the policies and regulations framing 
these developments. Which policies and regulations have had positive 
effects on the development, adoption and use of ICTs and what are the 
less positive experiences?



We also welcome contributions on the applications of ICT in various 
public social contexts (health, learning, etc.), in smaller and larger 
business environments and for private residential purposes. What are the 
experiences so far regarding ICTs supporting public services and how has 
the use of mobile communications influenced the strategies and 
performance of micro, small, and large businesses?



In the selection of papers for this dossier consideration will be given 
to papers that highlight areas where technology solutions and 
applications have developed earlier or faster than in other countries or 
regions of the world. The take-up of technology in African countries 
frequently is seen as following more economically developed countries. 
However, in some areas, for instance, e-money, African countries are 
among the leaders. Papers analyzing other similar developments will be 
welcome.



Potential Topics:



. Benchmarking telecom market status in Africa: priorities (fixed vs 
mobile coverage), pricing, regulation and competition policies…; . 
Opportunities and barriers to the development of innovative services and 
usage (m-payment, e-health, e-learning, e-governance…); . Roles of 
intermediaries (social movement organizations, industry sector 
organizations, etc.) in encouraging demand for ICT applications; . 
Industrial organization: strategy of western telcos in Africa, new 
emerging African groups; . Impact of telecom network deployments on 
Internet and media developments in Africa.





Please send proposals (full papers) until February 29th 2012 to:



(s.nigon /at/ idate.org)



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