Africa
Media Piracy in South Africa
Poverty and social inequity in South Africa have shaped the development of media culture and distribution in the country. Low incomes in a country where one-third of the population lives on less than one dollar a day, high prices for commercial DVDs and Cds and a widespread advertising culture have created a high demand for media goods which are not easily obtained legally for the great majority of South Africans. Making pirated disks, books and online digital formats the desirable alternative. A new study on media piracy Media Piracy in Emerging Economies examines why piracy has come to be so widespread world-wide, the reasons why it persists and looks at the future. APC is the contributor for the South African chapter.
South Africa: Untapped TV spectrum can make internet more affordable
“Open spectrum is important because access is important” says Steve Song, telecommunications fellow at the Shuttleworth Foundation in an interview with APCNews. But in South Africa, the problem is not lack of access – it’s that access is not affordable. Freeing up wireless spectrum, such as television white spaces —the space between channels— or making more information available on spectrum that is currently not in use could help to make affordable access a reality. Song is the author of a new country survey report commissioned by APC in which he explores how spectrum is currently managed in South Africa, and the barriers that are blocking availability.
Open spectrum for development: South Africa case study
Prior to 1994, spectrum in South Africa was managed by the state body responsible for its implementation. Thus broadcast spectrum was managed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and telecommunications spectrum managed by the state telecommunications provider, Telkom. This was generally uncontentious because, prior to the rise of mobile telecommunications and wireless broadband, the availability of spectrum significantly exceeded its demand.
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Egypt: Regimes cannot overcome the power of people communicating in solidarity
“The power of people communicating in solidarity and joint action is a power that even the most over-confident rulers and regimes cannot overcome, not in the long term”, said APC’s executive director Anriette Esterhuysen. “What is happening in Egypt and Tunisia is a demonstration of people’s outrage and courage in the face of long term repression – now played out on and supported by the internet and mobile technologies.” APC joins the global solidarity with the Egyptian people as they take to the streets in the struggle for democratic reform and human rights.
This Atlas is a visual account of Africa’s endowment and use of water resources, revealed through 224 maps and 104 satellite images as well as some 500 graphics and hundreds of compelling photos.
More spectrum could make licensing a more transparent process in Nigeria
Nigeria is arguably one of the leading countries in Africa with respect to spectrum deregulation and licensing. However while the country follows best practices on the telecommunications side, the process for allocating broadcasting licenses and frequencies lacks transparency and is still dependant on Presidential approval. As the two regulatory bodies prepare to merge to form a single entity, Nigeria to reconsider how it allocates broadcasting licenses, says Fola Odufuwa, ICT expert and author of a new APC report on spectrum management in Nigeria.
GISWatcher reports from “the free Tunisia”
“For those who don't know Tunisia,” writes Khaled Koubaa, Global Information Society Watcher based in Tunis. “Tunisia is a small country but a great nation. It was the first Arab country to abolish slavery in 1848, the first Arab country to establish a constitution in 1861, the first Arab country to abolish polygamy in 1956 and legalise abortion in 1973. And now Tunisia is the first Arab country to kick out its dictator and this without the help of any foreign nation!” Read more of Khaled's report on the GISWatch website. GenARDIS grantee wins Africa Rural Connect contest
In 2008-2009, Ugandan organisation Toro Development Network (ToroDev) was awarded a small grant through the APC’s Gender and agriculture and rural development in the information society (GenARIDS) project. No more than a year later, the grass roots organisation has been awarded $12, 000 through the Africa Rural Connect contest, to continue its work in helping small-scale rural farmers – many of which are women – learn to use technologies such as mobile phones, radios and computers.
A national cyber-strategy for Congo, which integrates women
While the APC’s CICEWA research and advocacy —a project that aims to advocate for universal access and telecommunications reform in Central, East and West Africa, “our work has just begun,” says Sylvie Niombo a women and tech activist in the Congo. As part of CICEWA her small NGO has carried out research and advocacy within the scope of the CICEWA project, and managed to highlight the importance of involving women in the development of national ICT policy in the country. By using GEM, the APC Gender Evaluation Methodology, the research team was able to identify gaps in current policy and bring forward an action plan for decision-makers in the country to consider. APCNews talks to Sylvie Niombo.
