Telecommunications and Sub-Saharan Africa : The continuing crisis

Telecommunications growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is chronically slower than in the rest of the developing world, primarily because it has not been given the necessary priority by governments. This article identifies nine fundamental areas which weaken financial and technical performance of the telecommunications sector, and explains their effects in the region. The author describes some plausible measures for reform in each area, and the role of international institutions and experts in encouraging change. The author warns that the leaders of Sub-Saharan countries need to realize the importance of communication in order to make available the adequate resources.