Patterns in ICT Growth and Development in Africa: A Kohonen Map Analysis

• Activity Number: 630
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 5, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Olumayokun Soremekun*+ and Charles Malgwi
• Companies: Bentley University and Bentley University
• Keywords: Kohonen Maps ; Self Organizing Maps ; ICT ; Africa

Abstract

In the last decade, Africa has witnessed a dramatic increase in the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This is in line with Goal 8 of the MDGs, which calls for cooperation with the private sector, to make available the benefits of new technologies. On average, the number of mobile telephone subscribers in Africa is six times more than the number of internet users and twelve times more than fixed telephone users. This study explores whether there are patterns to the spread and adoption of mobile telephones relative to other ICT indicators. We generate Kohonen Self Organizing Maps on a panel of 50 African countries to enable us understand the underlying structure and neighborhood relations between the countries. We posit that geographical and regional characteristics may explain the observed patterns of growth and development in ICTs in Africa.