One of the important revelations made by the Minister is that the National ICT policy of 2003 is carefully being reviewed and the exercise will be completed by the end of this year. This point deserves public attention, given the fact that every citizen is affected by developments taking place in the communications sector, either positively or negatively.
A situation where there is no relevant policy to guide ICT related activities in today’s society is like grouping in the dark and can be a setback to harnessing the unfolding technological opportunities which are vital in propelling the wheels of modern development.
It is now more than 10 years since the current national ICT policy was launched. A decade is a long time in matters related to science and technology which are changing at a dazzling speed. It is, indeed, a fact that since that time much technological water has passed under the bridge and one can say with certainty that the policy in place is more or less outdated.
Some positive developments have taken place since 2003. The most notable ones with a big impact include installation of the national ICT broadband infrastructure with a potential to link the country to East African partners as well as other neighbouring countries like Malawi and Zambia.
Overseas cables like SEACOM and EASSy have also landed along our coastline areas, thus facilitating more ICT connections to other continents. This infrastructural base augurs well for the future in terms communication related developments.
Some of the benefits of the above mentioned projects are already being enjoyed while others are in the pipeline. Internet based communication platforms are gaining popularity in our society, as reflected in the rising number of blogs, social forums, websites as well as internet visitors. Online newspapers, radio, and televisions are in their infancy but growing steadily.
Probably the most exciting development today is mobile phone communication where we have witnessed unprecedented growth in the number of users, which has shot up from 300,237 in 2000 to 28 million today - this means nearly half of the Tanzanians benefit from mobile phone communication, in one way or another. As a resulted, E-learning, E- medicine, E- governance etc are among ICT based activities being adopted in our society at a good pace.
Broadcasting services have also improved significantly, thanks to the introduction of broadband latest innovations. Migration from analogue to digital broadcasting took off with all sorts of hitches but now it seems the project is on the right path.
A fair assessment of the situation shows that there are still many challenges behind what looks like the country’s ICT success story, as innovations in this area can be both a boon and a bane to society -depending on how the technologies are put to use.
For example, experience shows that while platforms like blogs can play an educative role, yet they can also sow seeds of disharmony, if misused. This applies to mobile phones and other communication tools as well.
Cyber crime has also reared its ugly head in most parts of the world, and Tanzania is no exception. It is against this background that debate on whether internet communication must be regulated or not, and how to regulate it without violations people’s rights and freedom of expression, continues.
The point being underscored here is that any ICT policy has an impact on the interests of all sorts of stakeholders. These must be fully involved and consulted at various stages of formulating a worthwhile policy.
If the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology is serious when he says the ICT national policy is expected to be ready at the end of 2014, then there is a fundamental question to be raised - to what extent have the key players been involved in the process of formulating it?
If it is proved that no enough consultation has been done, then let us take time to do the necessary instead of sticking to the fast tracking approach and end up with a document which leaves much to be desired.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Henry Muhanika
Quelle/Source: IPPmedia, 08.06.2014
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