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VoIP Booming in Africa

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the spam-over-IP-also-booming dept.

securitas writes "The NY Times reports on the rapid growth of voice-over-IP telephony (VoIP) in sub-Saharan Africa and the battles it is waging with the government monopolies/ILECs. VoIP upstarts are taking market share from the government telcos, making it vastly more affordable to make a phone call since they don't charge the usual exorbitant tariffs and excessive user fees. Governments have responded by shutting down these operations, seizing equipment and cutting off service to lines they suspect of using Internet telephony. Part of the boom is related to the wait times for getting a phone line (Ghana Telecom has a backlog of 300,000 line requests), poor quality of service (50% of time you get a busy signal instead of a dial-tone) plus the willingness to trade voice quality for basic service. Foreign companies are now setting up VoIP call centers and multinationals like gold giant Newmont Mining plan to use VoIP for communications in and out of Africa. Some observers call Accra the next Bangalore, predicting a boom for the region that may make sub-Saharan Africa a major technology hub. This fits nicely with Kofi Annan's drive to use the Internet and wireless networks to change the lives of the poor."

7 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. The next Bangalore... by BJZQ8 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So how long until we start outsourcing jobs there?

  2. Re:Irony? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wouldn't iron be a group of deaf/mute people leading the way in VoIP?

    No, iron would be a metal.

  3. getting rid of boom and rumble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    VoIP Booming in Africa

    A good highpass filter will take care of that booming which is usually caused by microphone handling. Set your rolloff at about 50Hz.

    *RIMSHOT*

  4. And yet the 419s keep coming. by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny
    > Governments have responded by shutting down these operations, seizing equipment and cutting off service to lines they suspect of using Internet telephony.

    I am Neal, Boy of Cow, and I please to have your assistance! My father was the operator of a VoIP service until the government of Ghana have responded by shutting down the VoIP operation, seizing his equipment and cutting off service to lines it suspect of using Internet telephony. I have an OC-48 of bandwidth available for all ur spamming need, but 1st u must deposit me the IP addresses of 256 open proxies of stupid lusers with open proxies on verizon.net, attbi.com, rr.com, charter.com, or cogentco.com! PLS HELP, U HELP ME, I CAN HELP U! GOD BLESS U!!!1!

  5. Re:Subject by Zalgon+26+McGee · · Score: 3, Funny
    Yep, companies love to move to areas with high levels of corruption and where people murder each other because they put a curse on them.

    Hey, it's worked for California...

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    Book(n): Utensil used to pass time while waiting for the TV repairman

  6. Re:Idiots. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Somebody introduce McDonalds over there so they can get fat and sue McDonalds and then be rich.

    1. INTRODUCE MCDONALDS TO AFRICA
    2. AFRICANS GET FAT
    3. ????? THE ANSWER, IS TO SUE MCDONALDS!
    4. PROFIT!!!!!1

    See! I've fixed the world's problems! Praise me!

  7. Wohoo by loconet · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now it should be easier for me to contact the Nigerian Prince who needs me to transfer his money.

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    [alk]