Welcome back, it's interesting to note that in Ghana Cybercafe's are thriving while here they are closing shop! Possibly one thing to find out would be what internet resource were people accessing in local cybercafes that they can now access on the go? and Inversely what are people access in cybercafe's in Ghana? can they also access in on the go? In my humble opinion possibly Cybercafe's / PASHA centers could consider a "virtual office" space model, your main product is not just access to the Internet but you can do much more. Maybe this would give Cybercafe owners a new lease of life as broadband access becomes more readily available in the home and possibly at more affordable rates, which in turn will put local cybercafe owners under more pressure and mostly those in urban centers.

SammyG.

On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 7:12 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:

Listers

Just back from Ghana where I was impressed to see that cybercafes are still alive (e.g. BusyInternet)...as my experience in Kenya is that it's hard to find a functional cybercafe within easy reach with cutting edge services and programs (PDF etc)....most are closing down with Internet available on the mobile (with aggressive competition). So outside the office set-up and with minimal home connections...one has almost no options for innovation.

Is it a good thing that cybers are dying in Kenya and broadband is yet to reach homes? what needs to be done differently to inform our efforts on digital villages etc?

Edith

________________

Edith Ofwona Adera

Senior Program Specialist

ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program

International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international

Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa

Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera

eadera@idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca | www.crdi.ca

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