Comments on: Life without Internet in Ethiopia

By: johnsavageau

johnsavageau — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:47:59 +0000

That is a great overview going deeper into the realities in Ethiopia. One thing that is slightly off track – I flew Ethiopian Airlnes from DC, to Addis, to Kampala, and back. It was one of the nicer flights I have been on years. The government certainly does that part right. However Internet access is a big issue. You are right, when people are connected for the first time, and see how big and wonderful the world is, it is an absolute pleasure to watch. Not sure what the government really wants to control – guess it is true that keeping people ignorant is the best way to keep them under control.

By: Howard Smith

Howard Smith — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:19:38 +0000

John,
A colleague of yours, Glen Robertson, forwarded this Ethiopia article since I spent 208 in Addis Ababa working on an Ethiopian Telecom Corp transformation program.
Your observations about expanding Ethiopia’s world via the Internet is certainly on point. Our program hired 200 recent university graduates and gave them a modern office building, computer equipment and Internet access. It was difficult to focus them on using the web for assigned research when, all at once, they had the world at their fingertips.
However, the “federal republic” is quite insecure in giving all of its citizens the same type of access. The Ethiopian Telecom Corporation’s slogan is “Connecting Ethiopia to the Future”…not the world. Internet cafes, although prevalent, are often raided by the government and closed. Multiple closings can result in “corruption” charges to the owner. Jail time usually follows. [Ethiopian jails are nothing like US jails!]
The government has many hurdles to cross but establishing a global telecom network with competition is the necessary next step. Some enlightened ministers understand this but the Prime Minister is not so easy to convince. Meles Zelawe [sp] makes politically correct statements but actions do not follow.
Ethiopia is a fascinating country that is paranoid in its concerns over internal safety and security. This inward focus is one of the debilitating forces at work.
More exposure of Ethiopia and its circumstances certainly can work to change some of these “backward” positions.

By: BON

BON — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:32:22 +0000

NOTE: These comments are presented as received. While I do not promote politics, and try to present facts as I see them when writing blogs and articles, it is very clear some topics are very emotional for some readers. I encourage comments from all perspectives, and healthy debate on important topics.
=====Savageau 19 Jun 2010

Ethiopia is under sever oppresion, no free media, less internet access, low connectivity and so on….. Leave alone the internet, you can not use your mobile phone out side some major cities, imagine that!!! the price of simcard was about 35 USD for the last 6 years (you can get simcards for 50 kenyan shilings in Nairobi or for free in Johannesburg). all this happens due to Melese Zenawi’s unpopular and undemocratic regime, this is crime on humanity or Genocide as to me
Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: johnsavageau

johnsavageau — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:04:15 +0000

Mr. Zane – thanks for your reply. Many hotels does not mean half, a quarter, a third, or any other percentage. It meanbs some hotels have Internet access. This means plenty of opportunity for development.

By: johnsavageau

johnsavageau — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:02:50 +0000

Thanks for your response. Everything you said is probably true, although I can only record a snapshot in time as I experience an event. This is what I experienced, which is different than any other city I have stayed in a very long time. It was not meant to be a negative article, only a single view of a single experience.

Please tell us more about Addis. If my impression is wrong, please let us know more about what is right about Internet in Ethiopia.

By: Zane Kent

Zane Kent — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:01:49 +0000

John Savageau,

From your profile you seems a high tech gig and surprised to find out Internet access problems in Addis.

The gov’t of Ethiopia either completely or partially block you from Internet. It depends their mood. You make it like the whole country did not have any access to the Internet. It is not true at all. Not every one starved or has no access to clean water either in Ethiopia. Please be honest. Many hotels have access with wireless in Addis, it does not mean will get Internet. Nothing to do with a technology availablity in Addis, it is up to the gov’t you will get it or not.

You are under the assumption every one in California have access to the Internet. Not true at all. I suggest go to the poor community, especially African or Hispanic Americans. In some case some people in Addis have a better access to the Internet.

Because you live in Burbank, California does not mean you have a better school system than in Addis.

What Ethiopia need is a true democracy or accountable gov’t. The rest will happen like any other countries Germany or Japan.

Mr. Zane Kent from Canada!!

By: Guest

Guest — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:34:25 +0000

Which hotel did you choose to stay and how much did you pay for it?
Cheap hotels provide poor services and they happen to exist on every part of the world. But, whichever it was, it has led you to the discussion of some of the important problems dictating the way Africans live their lives. It is true that a lot has to be done to bring the nations out of poverity. And, it is also true that internet palys an important role in the process. That was the positive side of your article.
But it is a bit annoying to get the wrong impression from your article- It starts with the title itslef. I personally had known plenty of small coffee shops providing free wirelss internet servises – that was back in 2007-2008. Just because one didn’t get the service from a cheap hotel ($12.00 to $20.00/night) doesn’t mean that the entire nation is on a blind spot on the internet world.
I would be a little bit careful and fair on my selection of the hotel I stay at and a title for this article, respectively.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:10:29 +0000

The real issue for lack widespread of internet access in Ethiopia is political.
The government controls all forms of media in the country, including the internet.
In fact, they block a lot of internet sites and blogs that are opposed to them.

Making internet access easy for the populace would mean they would lose the control they have over the media, so it’s in their own interest not to let it happen.

This is not an issue of aid, there are plenty of Ethiopians within the country and abroad that have the technical know how and the possibility to raise funds to facilitate the a much improved internet access, but this wouldn’t fit the government’s agenda.

Just google for Ethiopian current affairs sites and see for yourself how many of them have a “blocked in Ethiopia” badge on them.

By: Life without Internet in Ethiopia |

Life without Internet in Ethiopia | — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:39:36 +0000

[...] Courtesy of John Savageau [...]