Access to Digital Platforms: Can 'Mobile' Network Coverage Reports be Relied Upon? Observations from Rural Zambia and Zimbabwe

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the reliability of 'mobile' network coverage reports in rural Zambia and Zimbabwe, highlighting discrepancies between reported access and actual user experiences, and emphasizes the need for contextual research in Africa.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the mismatch between reported mobile network access and real-world experiences in rural African contexts, advocating for localized research approaches.

Findings

Discrepancies between reported and actual network access in rural areas

Importance of contextual research for understanding digital access in Africa

Call for investment in localized digital infrastructure and data collection

Abstract

As access to digital platforms in Africa is mostly through 'mobile' networks, this paper addresses the mismatch of universalised reports on 'mobile' access and the experiences from digital health practice and cases in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Further, the paper shines a critical light on the meaning of terms like access and the 4th industrial revolution from an African context. It argues for the need to invest in contextual research and development, also to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to access digital platforms in and from Africa.