The Importance of Internet Accessibility and Smart City in Sub-Sahara African Region Through Space Technology

Abstract

This observation correlates the importance of Internet accessibility and the Smart City concept in Sub-Sahara African, through space technology. The Internet has foster innovation through peer-to-peer networking, providing ease to data communication networks, e.g. electronic mail, & E-education. It has become part of our daily utility with very high adoption rate. Europe for example has more than 85% of her household using the internet as at 2016, while that of Africa was around 21% (The Statistic Portal. Website: https://www.statista.com/topics/3853/internet-usage-in-europe/). This disparity is mainly due to inadequate technological infrastructures. Smart city is built on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which most countries in Africa lacks. With robust internet connectivity, Africa can close the gap by tapping into the enormous resources provided by the internet, to support the smart city approach which can leapfrog Africa to the 21st century in terms of technology and Innovation. Space technology such as the OneWeb constellation of small satellites, will be launched to the Lower Earth Orbit, providing Global internet broadband services as early as 2019. Such access to the internet can provide solutions to the Smart City concept in Africa as well as supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.