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False msafiri 68 TECHNOLOGY MAKING THE CONNECTION R ight across Africa, the latest hi- tech wizardry continues to fuel massive growth in connectivity and overcome the barriers presented by the continent’s vast un- cabled spaces. Wireless technology, from Wi- Fi networks to 3G mobile signals, is finally opening communication lines to remote areas, and it’s cheaper than ever too. Africa currently has 260 million mobile phone users, and just 20 million landline subscribers. That 85% dominance is a perfect demonstration of wireless convenience where access to cabled connections is simply not an option. And that number is set to balloon in the next year, as improved mobile connection speeds begin to roll out across the continent. Internet analysts ComScore now say there are over 41 million internet users across Africa. That’s a whopping 28% increase in the last 12 months. But the potential for growth remains, since even those figures represent just 5% of the population being connected. In Europe, the average nation has a connected population of 40%. But the next 12 months will see rapid acceleration in Internet use across Africa. New WiMax technology is right around the corner, offering broadband connections direct to homes without cables, and at a distance of up to five miles. That means base stations can be placed further apart, making an infrastructure much easier to piece together over Africa’s sprawling spaces. The region also boasts the highest growth rate for mobile phone sales across the entire planet. For the past five years, the African mobile market has averaged a 65% increase year on year, putting it head and shoulders above the rest of the world. The technology is here. The audience is ready. Africa is poised to become an Internet superpower. The technology is here. The audience is ready. Africa is poised to become an internet superpower. There are few places where broadband is having a bigger impact than Africa, says James Holland in our guide to getting connected AFRICA: