Before a general .AFRICA extension can be implemented, a lot of work must be put into making the internet more accessible in the region, with a broader goal of ultimately developing the specific country code extensions. According to statistics available at internetworldstats.com and compiled from the US Census Bureau, data published by Nielsen//NetRatings and other local sources, Africa only amounts for about 3.5% of all internet users in the world, with less than 5% of the African population having access to the internet.
It goes without saying that there are dire needs currently plaguing the African continent that must be addressed before thinking of expanding domain name registration and resale. The more effort that’s invested in Africa starting with the basics like food, water, health care and adequate shelter, the more prone Africa will be to grow in the internet realm and ultimately jump right into the domain game.
In fact, there’s some good news already; internet usage in Africa as a whole has grown an astonishing 882.7 % from 2000-2007, with countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Chad, Benin, Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria exhibiting the most significant percentage growth during that time frame.
Currently, South Africa has the biggest domain registry in Africa, with 400,000 registrations of their .ZA extension, according to its communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. There’s still room for improvement. The internet drives economic development through the use of email, more direct access to information, and added online business exposure. The growth of Country-Code Top-Level Domains(ccTLDs) , especially in those African nations currently growing the fastest, can also propel economic expansion.
According to Matsepe-Casaburri[1] , African governments should improve their governance of the Internet with more open standards. Making sure suitable investors are aware of the opportunities that exist in Africa is also important. Getting people excited about registering ccTLDs is essential. With the 2010 World Cup soon approaching in South Africa, what better way to rev up the world’s population of soccer fans than by encouraging them to register African ccTLDs for outlets like fan sites and blogs that celebrate and support Africa’s place in the world.
[1] ITWeb.co.za
Source: Sedo.com -- Reprinted with permission -- May 14, 2008