Hi
Quite a timely and very difficult conversation indeed. To date, I still think that ICT is treated as luxury as there are many arguments that the low income communities first need basic needs (water, food and adequate shelter) met before we can think of the internet, yet we are talking of e-learning, e-commerce, e-government etc. This is indicative of the continuing growing inequality gap and has a lot to do with government and also to a large extend, private sector, priority.
Several years ago when ICT4D and M4D were becoming a thing, an attempt to bridge the digital divide through a project that aimed at enabling community-based human rights networks harness the power of the internet to do engage better through an ICT4D initiative. Most of the networks were rural and totally out of the grid, apart from having no computer literacy. Once the literacy issue was overcome, still access was the greatest barrier as powering computers and laptops need adequate supply of electricity. Well, an idea to use generators attempted, but access was still out of reach as the signals from mobile modems, regardless of the ISP was too weak. Actually, to date, when I go to the village, mobile internet is still very problematic. Not to mention how expensive it is to use bundles as opposed to using wifi. Again, the cost of bundles is still out of reach for the low income households.
In short, infrastructure as the backbone is absolutely necessary. What is the point of Safaricom, Zuku, Airtel, Telcom and Jamii Telcom, to name the big players, to continue fighting over the pie in Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Karen, Runda etc urging us to migrate, when there are myriads of households elsewhere near and far inadequately served?
We need better policies to ensure access, and not one service provider or another running to Communications Community to get advantage over others.
These are long term issues and both government and the private sector should prioritize these. The internet is no longer luxury, has never been. And as such should be a public good, easily accessible and affordable.
In the meantime, what can be done even as Coronavirus threatens to grind life as we know it to halt?
Regards
Beryl