La diffusion de l’Internet en Côte d’Ivoire. Obstacles et implications

Abstract

It is only through the understanding of the various obstacles to the diffusion of the Internet in Ivory Coast that we will be able to influence policies aiming at promoting the expansion of this medium. The Internet is primarily a matter of technology and its effective diffusion still depends on certain classical devices such as landline telephone and computer. The use of landline telephone is still not widespread in Ivorian households. As for the computer, it is still the leading terminal of the information highway. However, because of its relatively complex use mode and its high cost, it remains technically and economically out of reach for most of Ivorian people. Moreover, although rising generation mobile phones and other digital terminals enable to have access to the Internet, we notice that these wireless technologies are currently not commonplace. At last, the use of the Internet also requires being able to read and write, and having an adequate purchasing power. Yet, most of Ivorian people are illiterate and poor. For all these reasons the diffusion of the Internet in Ivory Coast faces three major types of obstacles, namely people’s dependence on technology, their purchasing power and the illiteracy of a part of the population.

Keywords

• ICT
• Internet
• diffusion
• Ivory Coast
• Africa