Robert Wentrup|Patrik Ström|Hiroki Nakamura
Digital oases and digital deserts in Sub-Saharan Africa
University of Gothenburg|University of Gothenburg|University of Gothenburg
purpose paper aims investigate whether subsaharan african countries catching rest world terms online usage online service usage important component discourse digital divide emblematic term inequality information communication technology access designmethodologyapproach paper quantitative analysis internet facebook penetration coupled economic strength gdpcapita literacy degree rural population findings findings reveal heterogeneous pattern african countries digital oases close european levels whereas majority countries still digital deserts strong correlation found economic strength internet penetration generalist picture subsaharan trajectory closing digital divide imprecise reflection reality research limitationsimplications argued instead measuring supplyside data trend till use demandside elements online service usage tells digital inequalities countries practical implications research encourages internet firms open eyes subsaharan africa investment opportunity untapped gap online usage social implications threebillion internet users planet unevenly spread underrepresented africa drawing heterogeneous online usage landscape digital policy accurately steered toward countries largest needs originalityvalue paucity research going depth online usage africa paper contribution fill gap