African Geographical Review
Volume 29, December 2010

Research Article

Uneven Geographies of the African Internet: Growth, Change, and Implications

Barney Warf

Although it is marginal within global cyberspace, Africa has recently seen rapid growth of the internet, including average annual growth in users of 40 percent. This paper maps the changing configuration of the continent’s telecommunications infrastructure, internet users, the drivers of access to cyberspace, including income and literacy, and major obstacles to the technology’s diffusion. Second, it turns to the political and economic implications of the African internet, including government censorship, e-government, and electronic commerce.

Key words: internet; telecommunications; cyberspace; e-government; e-commerce