Plugging into the “Cloud”- How Cloud Computing can enhance ICT penetration in Liberia

Several factors have been identified as barriers to ICT penetration in Liberia and most developing countries. The lack of capacity and the lack of infrastructure are two of the most frequently mentioned factors in discourses relating to ICT penetration in developing countries, especially in Liberia. I have been told – on several occasions – that the mean reason for Liberia’s slow pace toward a “digital revolution” is the lack of low cost, high-speed Internet/Telecommunications access. This basically refers to a connection to an underwater fiber optic cable (the controversial SAT3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable) which is located around the West and South coasts of Africa. Granted this is the main reason, what then are we doing in its absence (submarine connection) to prepare for the “digital revolution that will take place when we finally achieve a connection? Do we wait until we get connected before we start preparing? Or should we use the little resources that we currently have to prepare for the future? Are we going to continue saying: “Liberia is not ready yet” for the next 10 years?