Information and Communications Technology in Africa: Enabling Big Data, to Enable Development

In 2009, United Nations (UN) established The Global Pulse, an innovation lab where big data from around the globe is analyzed. The Global Pulse works with universities, corporations, and other UN programs including the World... [ view full abstract ]

In 2009, United Nations (UN) established The Global Pulse, an innovation lab where big data from around the globe is analyzed. The Global Pulse works with universities, corporations, and other UN programs including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Program, (UNDP), the World Food Program (WFP), The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

To implement and reap the benefits of big data projects, there must be a robust Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure. This paper examines the infrastructure on the African continent, which is home to 34 of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) according to the United Nations (UN). Over the past few decades, there has been much investment in projects such as Africa One, an underseas fiber optic cable around the continent and those initiated by the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RASCO). These projects should provide the necessary infrastructure for countries in Africa to move forward in big data, and the existence of a solid infrastructure should mitigate the costs for countries, companies, or organizations to start big data projects.

In this paper, we examine the impact of ICT infrastructure projects on big data efforts in two African countries that are classified as “least developed.” The findings can be used to compare ICT infrastructure readiness for big data projects in other areas of the world.