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where telephone penetration is high, even in Europe,
users of the Internet or high-speed access can be a measure of economic development and of the potential of the
country to grow.
"For example in the SITA-Equant case, you provide high-speed access in these countries, but mainly for international
companies. If you look at DSL technology for instance, it is a way to provide digital access in countries where
optical fiber is very rare, because you can have high bit rates thanks to the existing infrastructure."
But bringing these technologies to these regions is very much dependent, Desnoes said, on money from the West and
organization. And they need this access to the Net, "first to help them in developing because it will help
them in getting education. And secondly, it will help them in trading because it can help them to sell their products
directly without having to deal with big trust companies.
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"So it's a way to gain independence for them, and to develop a direct relationship between them and developed
countries. If you can buy something in Africa through the Internet from a small shop, this is interesting not only
for them, but also for you. The interest is shared. If it's a two way deal, it means that as these countries develop
we'll get new markets and can sell new products, so it's a win-win situation."
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