Message-ID: <v02130520ad83e7ea038d@[196.20.30.2]> Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 08:44:40 +0100 From: Dr Eberhard W Lisse <mailto:el@LISSE.NA> Subject: Re: Traditional I.T. Before the Internet ?! To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
At 8:42 PM 30/3/96, Abubakr Alkhalifa wrote: [...] >The Internet is a very hot and promising tool in this arena and could be
>used to leapfrog the development process. But, here are some concerns
>around its appropriateness, compared to traditional I.T.:
>
> The Internet is much much much more expensive. It requires tremendous
>amounts of $$$ which developing countries lack. (more Foreign debt ?)
It is painfully obvious that you have no idea of the costs involved.
>Politicians in many developing countries may not allow the Internet to
>play its anticipated role, and would rather prefer to abuse it.
So what? So do the politicans in West/North.
>Some people fear that the West/North will exploit the competitive
>advantage of information. Therefore, the Internet may cause history to
>repeat itself.
Besides the fact that this Politically Correct statement is bogus, the alternative is to fall even further behind.
>Down the road, the Internet will become more appropriate. Meanwhile, the
>required telecommunication infrastructure can be built, the cost of
>connectivity will dramatically fall, and the political environment may
>(hopefully) improve. This way, the developing countries will become
>ready to take full advantage of the Internet.
To actually believe modern telecom infrastructure is going to be built on any large scale is fascinating. However the annual cost of full IP for a country is less then one decent BMW for the presidential motorcade.
As before, thinking about development doesn't help. Doing is much better.
el
-- Dr. Eberhard W. Lisse \ / Swakopmund State Hospital mailto:<el@lisse.NA> * | Resident Medical Officer Private Bag 5004 \ / +264 64 461503 (pager) 461005 (home) 461004 (fax) Swakopmund, Namibia ;____/ Zone/Domain Contact for the NA-DOM Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees, Namibian Internet Development Foundation, an Association not for Gain. NAMIDEF is the Namibian Internet Service Provider.