Broadband connectivity is still poor in Africa. Since global optical fibre broadband infrastructure has not yet been introduced here, people in eastern and southern Africa cannot afford to make international calls. The Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (rcip) supported by the World Bank, seeks to improve international connectivity in Africa. The us $424-million programme, announced in Washington dc on April 2, seeks to cut prices for international capacity. In the first stage of the plan, Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar will get of us $164.5 million. rcip will later include other African countries.

All the capitals and major cities in eastern and southern Africa will be linked to "competitively priced high-bandwidth connectivity', says a World Bank report.The report highlights Africa's plight in the global communication sector