Research ICT Africa Research ICT Africa is a non-profit public research network interested in information and communication technology (ICT) development policy and its governance. It is based in Cape Town, South Africa and is under the direction of Dr. Alison Gillwald. It aims to bridge the strategic gap in the development of a sustainable information society and a knowledge-based economy by conducting research on the policies and governance of the necessary ICT to document efficient governance in Africa. Initially financed by the CRDI, the network tries to extend its activities through national, regional and continental partnerships. The creation of the Research ICT Africa network meets the growing need for data and analysis necessary for an appropriate but visionary policy in order to propel the continent into the information age. Through the development of a network, RIA seeks to build an African knowledge base capable of supporting the ICT policy and regulation processes and to ensure that the development of these processes is monitored on the continent. The research comes from a public interest agenda and is in the public domain and individuals, public and private sector entities and civil society are also encouraged to use it for training, future research or to enable them to participate more efficiently in the formulation of ICT policy and governance on national, regional and global levels. This research is made possible thanks to significant funds received from the International Development and Research Centre (CRDI), Ottawa, Canada, to whom the members of the network express their gratitude for its support. The network is formed by 18 African countries. Similar national studies are available for South Africa (Kammy Naidoo/Steve Esselaar), Benin (Dr. Augustin Chabossou), Botswana (Dr. Patrica Makepe), Burkina Faso (Dr. Pam Zahonogo), Cameroon (Prof. Olivier Nana Nzèpa), Côte d’Ivoire (Prof. Arsene Kouadio), Ethiopia (Dr. Lishan Adam), Ghana (Dr. Godfred Frempong), Kenya (Dr. Tim Waema), Mozambique (Francisco Mabila), Namibia (Dr. Christoph Stork), Nigeria (Prof. Ike Mowete), Rwanda (Albert Nsengiyumva), Senegal (Mamadou Alhadji Ly/Mar Cathy Dieng Sylla), Tanzania (Bitrina Diyamett), Tunisia (Prof. Farouk Kamoun) and Uganda (Dr. Nora Mulira). Series Publisher: Dr. Alison Gillwald Assistant publishers: Enrico Calandro and Mpho Moyo About the Author Augustin Chabossou is a researcher at “Centre d’Etudes, de Formation et de Recherches en Développement” (CEFRED) (Centre of Development Studies, Training and Research), Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC) and the activity coordinator of the “ICT and economic development” department. He is a lecturer at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. He also teaches at the Université de Parakou and the Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (UCAO) in Abidjan. He holds a Masters degree in Industrial Economy, specializing in Public Economy, as well as a PhD from the Université de Cocody, Abidjan. He ran the “ICT Support Centre for Training and Research” from 2001 to 2004. He currently coordinates the research programme “E-stratégie du Bénin” as well as the activities of the Research ICT Africa network in Benin. He has carried out various studies on telecommunication regulation as well as on access to and the use of ICT services.