HELPING AFRICA LEAP-FROG THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Despite all weaknesses, obstacles and challenges, there is a major transformation taking place on the African continent. This is anchored on key principles of African ownership and leadership, self reliance and a new partnership with the developed and developing world that is based on mutual respect, responsibility and accountability. At Gateway, we are proud to be one of those key strategic partners helping to bring first world connectivity to the continent.

Economic growth and investment in technology and infrastructure are steadily bringing a better life to millions of Africans across the continent. However despite housing 14% of the world's population, Africa can still only claim 3% of the world's internet users (four out of every 100 Africans) and it is still the least connected continent on the planet - although the one experiencing the fastest growth rate in connectivity in the world.

The number of internet users has increased seven-fold since 2000, to almost 34 million today, but this figure is way short of the number needed to attain the rates of economic growth required to reduce poverty in Africa; so what more can be done?

At Gateway, we believe that satellite connectivity provides one solution to help Africa to leapfrog the digital divide. Today, companies like ours are supplying communications solutions to businesses and GSM operators the length and breadth of the continent. We are connecting company executives with workers in remote areas, often where there is no fixed-line communication infrastructure, and providing GSM operators with international connectivity solutions, allowing for example, a caller on the Celtel network in Gabon to connect with a Vodacom subscriber in South Africa.

Wireless solutions provide the answer to inadequate fixed-line infrastructure in Africa. A surge in demand for Internet access and broadband capabilities is expected to drive these developments further in the coming years and underpin growth in businesses like ours. Several international fibre projects currently under development are geared towards delivering adequate bandwidth and bringing down costs. Africa's telecoms future looks very promising and offers great opportunities to service providers, equipment vendors and investors like ourselves.