Flattening the World-The Prospects for Fiber Optic Technology in Africa

Flattening the World-The Prospects for Fiber Optic Technology in Africa

E Malcolm

In Africa, thechannels of communication are underdeveloped or inappropriate due to numerous factors. After independence from colonial rule, the lack of an adequate telecommunication infrastructure impeded nationaldevelopment in many African states. Untilthe 1980s, the principal means of communication were still newspapers, books, telephone, radio, and television. However, with thedevelopment of advanced technology, such as satellite and fiber optic networks, advances in the computer industry and the advent of theInternet, new forms of communication media are creating opportunities for African countries to develop their modern telecommunication infrastructure. This paper outlinesthe prospects for fiber optic technology in Africa. The paper defines fiber optic technology, how fiber optic networks function, and explains how different this technology is from other communication infrastructures. The researched …

2006

https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=DA2jtasAAAAJ&citation_for_view=DA2jtasAAAAJ:d1gkVwhDpl0C

English