This articles reviews critically the evolution, present status and future development of telecommunications in the African continent. It reports the major efforts so far made to develop telecommunications technology and services in Africa and points out that despite all these efforts, it is a painful fact that Africa still lags behind in the development of communications. The article attributes this unfortunate situation mainly to economic resource constraints, inefficient planning, inadequate roads, lack of coordination and low priority of communication development. It then calls for greater cooperation among African countries, funding agencies, the United Nations and the industrialized countries in this crucial area of telecommunications development in Africa, for the mutual benefit of all.
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