African Nations Score High-Speed Web Funding

by Jordan Yerman | April 4, 2007 at 08:43 am

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This is the sort of boost that much of Africa needs, n my opinion: not handouts, but actual investments in scalable technologies and infrastructure that will enable residents to take control of their future. And we can all forgive the article below for the "lion's share" pun.

Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar have secured $164.5m (£83.3m) from the World Bank to help roll-out high-speed internet networks.

The World Bank said the money was being made available to boost business competitiveness in the region.

Eastern and much of southern Africa is the only region in the world not connected to the global broadband infrastructure, the World Bank said.

Kenya will take the lion's share of the funding, with a $114.4m loan.

Madagascar is due to receive a $30m loan, while Burundi will receive a grant worth $20.1m, the World Bank said.