digital media: myths & realities

The old picture

1901 Eastern Telegraph Company System Map

The new picture

Courtesy Telegeography

The next picture?

Courtesy Steve Song, Many Possibilities

Sub-saharan Africa Undersea Cables in 2010 – maybe

Are we about to be wrong-footed?

Broadband and citizen journalism

• Under the current dispensation, bandwidth is a luxury. For Web 2.0, citizen journalism and innovation to flourish, broadband needs to become a commodity.

Reality check: SA Internet user base

• 2000: 2 416 000 (32% growth)• 2001: 2 886 000 (20%)• 2002: 3 098 000 (7%)• 2003: 3 283 000 (6%)• 2004: 3.5m (6%)• 2005: 3.6m (3%)• 2006: 3.75m (3%)• 2007: 3.96m (6%)• 2008: 4.4m (8%)

New Reality: The experience curve

SA Internet users with 5 years experience:

• 2001: 354 700

• 2002: 696 620 (96% growth)• 2003: 1 266 235 (81%)• 2004: 1 820 000 (44%)• 2005: 2 416 000 (32%)• 2006: 2 886 000 (20%)• 2007: 3 098 000 (7%)• 2008: 3 28m (6%)• 2009: 3.5m (6%)

6 Years on the Internet:The Experience Curve

New Reality: The Experience Curve

World Wide Worx

Internet users in South Africa, 2008

Online banking customers

Online retail customers

Broadband emerges