Digital Forum pushes for cheaper internet

By Victor MUJIDU

African digital experts gathering in Nairobi Wednesday made a provocative call for stronger internet regulations and affordable internet across the continent, urging the adoption of various measures including the strengthening of privacy rights.

This comes amid suggestions that internet bills continue to be high and unaffordable among many African households, with as many countries not considering it a priority.

Kenya for instance was last year ranked number 106 out of 117 countries when it comes to internet speed, quality, and growth, according to the World Digital Quality of life index 2022 report.

Compared to South Africa, mobile internet in Kenya is 2 times slower while broadband is 3 times slower.

Now experts feel a shift is essential.

“Rolling out infrastructure is difficult and very expensive. We have put in the conditions of licensing and investment from the government.

There has been some political will. This includes the Universal Service Fund. We also have one of the most liberated media on the continent,” said Grace Githaiga, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Convener, KICTANet.

Githaiga emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and joint convening in delivering Internet access.

“As KICTANet, we have held joint convening focusing on cybersecurity, data protection, and the broadband report. The Kenya Internet Governance Forum is our flagship program.

Vladimir stressed the importance of Internet access saying connectivity supports human rights. “People want high quality, affordable, and secure internet connectivity. The Internet is expensive and limited. We need to acknowledge and address internet connectivity gaps.”

‘Gbenga also urged all stakeholders to contribute towards efforts to ensure Internet accessibility. If all stakeholders don’t get their hands dirty, we will come back here 10 years later to discuss the same issues,” he added.

Paradigm Initiative is hosting the Pan-African bilingual event in collaboration with Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) and the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) established under Strathmore University.

KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder think tank in Kenya for ICT policy and regulation. CIPIT is an evidence-based research and training Centre based at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.

At the forum, Paradigm Initiative is hosting key partners from Internews, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, Derechos Digitales, the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), Inclusive Tech Group, Access Now, Data Privacy Brazil, Defend Defenders, Youth and Society, Tech Societal, the Global Network Initiative, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, MTN and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, to mention a few.

The event sponsors are the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ford Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Google, Open Technology Fund, and the Global Network Initiative (GNI).

PIN, which is a leading Pan-African Digital Rights and Inclusion organization, has convened DRIF since 2013.

The forum, whose theme is Building a Sustainable Internet for all, will bring together representatives from government, non-governmental organizations, academia, media, funding partners, the United Nations, the technical community, and the private sector within the digital ecosystem.

The forum is hosting 70 sessions with partners from 48 countries across the world. Sessions are focused on among other themes, Internet shutdowns, Universal Service Fund utilization, data protection, content moderation, and censorship. Also lined up at the event are key launches of research, platforms, and networks.

Last year’s DRIF under the theme, Towards a Digitally Inclusive Africa was a hybrid event that was able to reach over 1,300 individuals. Physical sessions were hosted in 17 African countries.