MARTIN WALSHAW It will not be long before broadband access becomes an essential and universal right for citizens
The increase in smartphones and broadband connections presents an opportunity for governments in Africa to roll out more comprehensive, effective and tailored services to more citizens using information technology (IT), which could also reduce the costs of service delivery.
Security remains a significant issue and identity theft will be a key aspect to protect, as citizens and consumers extend their presence online, says networking specialist company F5 Networks Martin Walshaw.
“People have become comfortable with sharing personal and private information on social media, with little regard for their own privacy. “This contrasts sharply with their reluctance to provide governments with personal information, despite much of this information being in the public domain and posted by them.”
However, given people’s willingness to share personal information, governments may be able to use input directly from citizens to formulate policy, such as an online questionnaire on dietary habits to improve nutrition and healthcare.
“This trend could mark a turning point in enabling governments in Africa and worldwide to fully leverage the potential of the Internet to serve citizens more efficiently and cost effectively,” notes Walshaw.
Bureaucratic processes can be monitored more effectively and automated using IT systems to reduce the burden on civil servants. This could also help reduce the growth of government employment, as each civil servant will be able to effectively deliver services to more people than is currently the case, while regional offices can provide more comprehensive services from multiple government departments.
Further, broadband connectivity is increasingly regarded as a universal right, as more services are delivered online.
“This tectonic shift in the way people interact with the world is accelerating. Many things that are now inconvenient without ready access to the Internet may well become impossible without good connectivity.”
This means that the importance of broadband connectivity will increase in direct proportion to the pace at which enterprises and governments relocate existing services and create new ones in the cloud.
“It will not be long before broadband access ceases to be a convenience and becomes an essential and universal right for citizens in every country in the world,” notes Walshaw.
The benefits of this information gathering can also extend to schools, for example, as governments would be able to personalise education based on data garnered from students and the results of their work.
“However, given the proliferation of online materials and courses, reliable authentication of education and training materials and courses will become a critical concern going forward.”
Connectivity is the foundation of all these developments. Investment in infrastructure, education and effective change management will put South Africa on the right footing to ensure success, concludes Walshaw.