US software and computer giant, Microsoft, has teamed up with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to accelerate the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) goals in Africa.

Yesterday, the ITU and Microsoft launched Global View, a virtual earth-based online platform to track and help accelerate the implementation of WSIS goals in Africa as the ‘Connect Africa Summit’ got underway at Kigali’s Serena Hotel.

The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining how they will work together to build a safe, inclusive and interoperable information society.

According to a joint statement, they agreed to support programmes providing skills development and capacity building along with the delivery of relevant applications and services.

They include delivery of a new online solution for all stakeholders to showcase and track the implementation of development projects.

Governments, along with industry, development banks and international organisations are gathered in Kigali to mobilise the human, financial and technical resources required to expand the development of ICT infrastructure and ensure it is used effectively in pursuit of the WSIS development goals for Africa.

Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the ITU applauded the venture. He said: "We are very pleased that Microsoft, as an early signatory of the ITU Connect the World initiative, is stepping up its commitment to help address the effective use of ICT infrastructure in Africa.

"Connect Africa is a call to action for the private sector, and we are encouraged by the progress we have made together with Microsoft to broaden the scope of capacity building in Africa.”

Michael Rawding, the vice president, Unlimited Potential Group, Microsoft Corp. said: "Through Unlimited Potential, we are committed globally to applying technology to advance social and economic opportunity, and we look forward to working with ITU on shared development and technology goals.”

Microsoft and ITU have launched a flagship on-line visualisation platform called ITU Global View, which is being demonstrated at the two-day Connect Africa summit.

Based on Microsoft Virtual Earth, ITU Global View integrates a broad range of new and existing data sources on global ICT for development accomplishments in support of the WSIS goals.

Easy to view, the software was developed in partnership with IDV Solutions.

The online platform will be hosted and maintained by ITU, and will be open to all stakeholders –  governments, industry, international and regional organisations, as well as civil society – allowing users to check status, identify gaps and avoid overlap in collaborative efforts to achieve the WSIS goals.

In addition, ITU and Microsoft will collaborate globally on cyber security and provide support for regulators in developing countries.

Meanwhile, BBC reported that one of the biggest problems facing internet development in Africa is a lack of interconnectivity.

More than 70 percent of internet traffic within Africa is routed outside the continent, driving up costs for business and consumers.

The ITU says more than $8bn was invested in telecommunications infrastructure across Africa in 2005.
Touré said the challenge for the ITU, technology leaders and companies was to help Africa meet its Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

In the technology sphere, that means easy access to information and communication technology for more than half of the continent’s population within eight years.

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