Some digital rights experts have questioned the high cost of
Internet data in many African countries, saying the prohibitive cost makes it
difficult for many citizens with poor economic means to access the Internet,
reports ITRealms.
They made their views known at the just concluded Internet
Freedom Forum organised by Paradigm Initiative at the Federal Capital, Abuja,
Nigeria.
Speaking at the Forum, the co-founder of Witness Radio, Jess
Ssebaggala said, "The Internet is still expensive for too many people in
many countries which is a big problem for expanding access. There are too many
people below the poverty line in many African countries and it would be
difficult to expand access to internet without reducing the cost of access for
users."
Also speaking on the subject, the Executive Director of
Internet Without Borders, Julie Owono said, "There's no point talking
about digital rights when there is no access to digital technologies and the
Internet."
Experts who spoke at the 3-Day international forum were
drawn from from over thirty African countries. They took their turn to speak on
the state of internet in their respective countries and the danger facing the
openness of internet.
For the Director of Programmes of Paradigm
Initiative, Tope Ogundipe, “it is obvious from the conversation that so many
African countries suffer from blatant rights violations, mostly perpetrated by
the government. African countries should invest in expanding access to the
internet instead of wasting resources on shutting down the internet and spying
on their citizens. In a continent where internet penetration is still below
50%, we should not be begging government not to shut down the internet.”
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