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The Role of Cybercafé in Bridging the Digital Divide

The Role of Cybercafé in Bridging the Digital Divide
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Author(s): Muhammed A. Badamas (Morgan State University, USA)
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 4
Source title: Managing Worldwide Operations and Communications with Information Technology
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-929-8.ch412
ISBN13: 9781599049298
EISBN13: 9781466665378

Abstract

Digital divide exists for those who do not have access and use Internet to fight the war against world poverty. Despite the remarkable advances in technology, more than 80% of the world population does not have access to telephone or Internet (Family Care, 2006). There are many international projects and efforts aimed at bringing the Internet to people in developing countries. Most of these projects are initiated and sponsored by international and governmental institutions. In this paper, we examine one way of bridging the digital divide based on private initiatives and yet yielding greater results and benefits to those who use it, to narrow the digital gap. There are over 100, 000 cybercafés in Nigeria. We examine the technology deployed and its advantage; discuss the operations of cybercafés in Nigeria and how they are helping to bridge the digital divide. The study involves a survey of cybercafés and the users of cybercafés. The result of the survey provides insight into what users of Internet in a developing economy use the Internet for.

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