The Role of Internet Communication in The Process of Social Development Dar Es Salaam

Abstract Internet can potentially help break down some of the major barriers to developments that are presently faced by low income populations. They can provide shared access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) that can offer development services in a number of areas that can assist in the development process. However, with obstacle such as poor infrastructures, high prices and inconsistent legislation still many challenges have to be faced. This research is a Bachelor of Mass Communication for the Faculty of social sciences, Kampala International University. The main goal of this research is to determine the role of internet communication in the process of social development in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. In order to reach this goal, the field study was performed in Dar es Salaam. Since Internet cafes are the main access to the in Tanzania, they could provide basic access to services such as health and education. Moreover, they could provide relatively . cheap and efficient way of communicating, considering the limited purchasing power and poor infrastructure in Tanzania. Nevertheless, increased interest in the Internet is not in line with increased awareness in terms of using the Internet for educational, commercial, social or political purposes. The existing business model of most Internet cafes is unsustainable and uneconomic. This is due to the umealistic charges for offered services, lack of reliable power supply, expensive bandwidth, connectivity down-time and high competition. This will result in the closing down of Internet cafes in the future. The current provision of courses and V I training by Internet cafes in the use of computers and the Internet is very limited. Considering the limited ICT personnel in Tanzania, the internet cafes could be appropriate training centers as they are already equipped with the necessary ICT facilities. Also in the field of education Internet could play a major part, given the absence of computers in Tanzanian schools. Besides, Internet could be a good alternative to the subsidized telecenters when connectivity is provided. Due to an absence of a national IXP Tanzania lacks cheap and high capacity connections to the global Internet. The high cost of Internet bandwidth is passed on to the Internet cafes. Even though the price charged by these cafes for offered services is not extremely high, it could obstruct a certain group with limited financial means from using Internet cafes, hindering the further diffusion of the Internet. The inconsistent ICT policies, the monopoly in fixed-line services and the lack of compensation for suffered losses is undermining further development of Internet cafes. This is also to the detriment of growth of the local ICT market.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Chapter one 

1. 0 Background of the study ......................................................................... 1 

1.1 statement of the problem ........................................................................ 3 

1.2 Objectives .......................................................................................... 4 

1.2.1 Overall objective ................................................................................. 4 

1.2.2 Specific objectives .............................................................................. 4 

1.3 Research questions ................................................................................ 4 

1.4 The scope of the study ........................................................................... 4 

1.5 Significance of the study ........................................................................... 5 

1.6 Conceptual framework .............................................................................. 6 

1. 7 Lin1itation ............................................................................................. 7 

Chapter two 

Literature review ....................................................................................... 8 

2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................ 8 

2.1 Inten1et and education ........................................................................... 8 

2.2 Government policy and the internet ........................................................... 9 

2.3 Internet and telecommunication ............................................................... 10 

2.5 Internet on health development. ............................................................... 10 

2.5 Language and internet communication ....................................................... 11 

2. 6 Internet into the cultural diversity .............................................................. 11 

2. 7 Internet on social participation ................................................................. 12 

2.8 The internet situation in Dar es Salaam ...................................................... 13 

Chapter three 

Methodology ....................................................................................... 14 

3.0 Introduction ......................................................................................... .14 

3.1 Research design ..................................................................................... 14 

3.2 Study population ..................................................................................... 14 

3.3 San1ple methods ..................................................................................... 15 

3.4Sainple techniques ................................................................................... 15 

3.5 Sampling ............................................................................................... 15 

3.6 sample size .............................................................................................. 16 

3.7 Methods of data collection ........................................................................ 16 

3.8 Data analysis ......................................................................................... 17 

Chapter four 

Discussion of results ...................................................................................... 17 

4.0 Internet liberalization Overview ....................................................................... 17 

4.0.1 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) .................................................................. 18 

4.0.2 Internet cafes ....................................................................................... 18 

4.2 CT regulations ........................................................................................ 18 

4.2.1 ICT Regulator. ..................................................................................... 19 

4.3 The Basic users .......................................................................................... 20 

4.4 ICT for education ........................................................................................ 21 

4.5 The situation of primary school. ...................................................................... 21 

4.6 The state of secondary education ................................................................. 21 

4.7 The state of colleges and universities ............................................................. 22 

4.8 Other training institutes .............................................................................. 22 

4.9 Internet and culture .................................................................................. 23 

5.0 Internet for health ..................................................................................... 25 

5.1 Internet for empowerment and participation ..................................................... 25 

Chapter five 

Summary Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................. 28 

6. 0 Introduction ..................................................................................... 28 

6.1 Summary ......................................................................................... 28 

6.1.1 Internet and ICT .............................................................................. 30 

6.1.2 ICT regulations ............................................................................... 30 

6.1.3 The users ....................................................................................... 30 

6.2 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 31 

7.0 Recommendations .............................................................................. 31 

7.1 Internet users .................................................................................... 31 

7.2 Empowerment and participation .............................................................. 32 

7.3 The internet and culture ........................................................................ 31 

7.4 ICT and schools ................................................................................ 32 

7.5 Health ........................................................................................... 33 

References ........................................................................................................................ 34 

Internet-based references: ................................................................................................ 35 

Appendix 1. Questionnaire ........................................................................................... 36 

Appendix 2. Glossary ofICT terms .............................................................. 38 

Appendix 3, Figure 1 Distribution of correspondents ........................................ 39 

Appendix 4, Figure 1.2 Age distribution of users ............................................. 39 

Appendix 5, Figure 1.3 The level of education received by users ........................ 39 

Appendix 6, Figure 1.4 The impact of internet use on the cultural changes ............ 39 

Appendix 7, Figure 1.5 The general purposes of using Internet .......................... 39 

Appendix 8. A map of Dar es Salaam ....................................................... .40