Digital Infrastructure: An Important Key To Africa's Future Success

Digital Infrastructure

Having a stable and reliable digital infrastructure has played a vital role in boosting a nation economy and poverty. In reality if a country have managed to develop its own digital infrastructure, that country is also going to be able to improve it productivity by increasing it production and reducing the transaction costs. In addition to this, digital infrastructures also could create new avenues for the government to pursue or create opportunities relating to the economic and social development of the country.

Looking at Africa we can definitely say that having a strong digital infrastructure is one of the issues that they need to solve as it also has a negative impact to the country's own competitiveness. With the increasing popularity of different applications such as e-commerce, telemedicine, distance learning and e-government, Africa must find new ways that could help them in developing their own infrastructure so that they may be able to catch up with the changes that happens in the international stage.

What can Africa do in order to build a better digital infrastructure?

·    Develop the roads. Some people may say that road improvements may be something that is not related to digital infrastructure or that it is something that should be covered in another discussion. And even though some of them may have a compelling opinion regarding this matter, I still do believe that having a good road that links each cities in Africa is one of the necessities in order to build a better digital infrastructure, as roads encourages people to create new firms that will in return seek new ICT applications or services for them to gain a competitive edge in the market.

·    Improve the energy sector. Okay, let's say in the not so near future Africa has managed to build a better digital infrastructure but to support the (possible) increasing demand for an access to different technological applications, Africa must also make sure that the country would have enough resources to generate the power that they will need. If the energy sector is not stable enough to handle any future demands from the consumers then it will only pose as another constraint to the development of a better digital infrastructure.

·    Have a strong commitment in promoting the long-term growth of the digital economy. The African government, as well as the business and other stakeholders involved in the development of a better digital infrastructure should commit themselves to a long-term promotion of the digital economy by establishing policies that supports the modernization of government policies, as this will encourage more investment and new ideas that will revolutionized the digital market.

Improve the people's technical skills. In order to ensure that the digital infrastructures' effectivity, the African government must find or create new opportunities that will help it people to have more technical experience.

Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa is a respected figure in the African business scene. With his rich experience and expertise in entrepreneurship, he has managed to bolster the success of his brainchild, Dalbit International.