A technology strategy analysis for the deployment of broadband connectivity for economic development in emerging economies : studying the case of Kenya using the CLIOS process

Abstract

The role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in economic development is increasingly moving to the core of national competitiveness strategies around the world thanks to its revolutionary power as a critical enabler of growth, development and modernization. As a result, many nations in emerging economies have initiated projects with the aim of increasing universal access to communications such as the deployment of broadband internet; one such nation is Kenya. Kenya recently drafted a national ICT policy (2006) and with the advent of broadband internet through the completion of several submarine (optic fiber) cable projects, the country now faces the challenge of converting this newly deployed infrastructure into a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. Each nation invariably presents a set of unique challenges, characteristics and circumstances that can only be overcome through a comprehensive and integrated technology strategy that appreciates the complexities and dependencies of the sector space and the myriad of interests influencing the policy sphere. This thesis presents a technology strategy formulation approach that can be effectively used to model and analyze this technology policy problem called the Complex Large Interconnected Open Socio-technical (CLIOS) Process and applies it to the Kenya ICT sector with reference to the deployment of broadband with a goal of achieving sustainable economic growth.

(cont.) The findings of the thesis encourage the deployment of broadband in a phased manner, beginning with corporations and later to individual clients, from areas of high density population to areas of low density; piloting the deployment using less permanent broadband installation technologies and progressively moving onto more permanent installation technologies backed by sufficient user demand; and finally to have a participative policy and strategy formulation for the achievement of the overall deployment goals. The thesis concludes by critiquing the effectiveness of the CLIOS process for ICT strategy formulation and mentions the resulting policy recommendations after using the CLIOS Process. It is the hope of the author that this thesis shall offer a framework that will elucidate the ICT policy making space which can later be utilized to analyze further policy decisions.