On internet connectivity in Africa: 

http://globaladvances.com/blog/2009/02/07/africas-climb-to-an-internet-revolution/

Digitizing Kenya - The impact of multimedia on the socio-cultural and political landscape in Kenya

 Calling for Submissions

Words: 1200 - 2000

Deadline: February 25^th 2009

Publication Date: Mid-March

Back in August I wrote about the Nigerian social bookmarking site STURVS (slang for stuffs) which has just been spotlighted at Bar Camp Africa in California. Since then I have been using Sturvs regularly - receiving daily Sturvs in my email as well as submitting news myself.

Google's expansion into Africa continues with today's announcement they have teamed up with media baron, John Malone and UK banking group HSBC to bring low cost  broadband internet to 3 billion people in the global south.  

A group of Silicone Valley engineers are working on a voluntary basis to bring solar powered wi-fi access to rural areas around the world. The company, Green Wi-fi iGreen Wi-Fi is

developing solar-powered, wireless antennas for laptops that are specially designed to handle the dust and heat and other inconveniences of life in remote areas.

I recently returned from 3 weeks in Nigeria and 3 weeks of internet frustration.  I arrived optimistically expecting to access the internet via cyber cafe's or friends homes/offices only to be left frustrated and wondering how on earth bloggers in Nigeria manage to post a blog. How many hours does it take to check your gmail or yahoo account? Do all bloggers have generators or what?  So it was no surprise to read this article at Royal Pingdom "Africa's internet is still VERY far behind". 

Just as a toothless molar deprives one of the enjoyment of ripe kolanuts (to quote a Yoruba proverb), so is the irregularity of energy denying many organizations (in Nigeria especially) the opportunity to maximize the benefits inherent inthe (new) technology.

I have been involved with Kabissa in various capacities for the past 7 years - as a member, as an adviser and now as the community coordinator, so I would say I am more than qualified to blow the "Kabissa Trumpet".