How to choose a web hosting provider

Today in the internet information age, for any business to be really successful in Africa, you need to choose a good web hosting company. I know that it may be somewhat confusing to choose the most suitable web hosting provider, but as more businesses are moving online there are many more different options of services today and new web hosting companies emerge every months. How to choose?. The first thing you should compare is the bandwidth for your data transfer possibility. You can drive large amounts of traffic with more bandwidth. It is the same also with your disc space that you need for your website. You can store more files and data at your website with a large volume of disc space. You can also post more videos and images on your website. A reputable web hosting provider should offer you a support 7 days a week and 24 hours per day. The last thing to look is the price. An expensive web host don't necessarily provide you with services of high quality but a cheap web host can provide you with a service of high quality. Ask the web hosting provider for a free test period to see if your website can respond within a reasonable time interval and check how the provider deals with the backup of your website. Think twice before choosing and surf the internet to find a review website that can give you advices concerning the web host industry.

E-learning in Africa

Distance learning can increase the number of people in education in Africa.The biggest obstacle to e-learning in Africa is really bandwidth. Undersea cables should provide more bandwidth to Africa this year in 2010, but there are still obstacles with unstable electricity supply, lack of computer equipment and internet access at schools. Practical problems should be solved first. Distance learning should allows african students to continue working on a degree, or start their work towards a new degree, from anywhere they may be located. Traditionally, most of the e-learning classes tend to be driven by the students themselves. Because there is not a traditional classroom and a teacher, the students must use their own determination and drive to learn the material as it is presented. Most often the material is presented either electronically or through interactive slideshows that let the students practice along as the lesson plays out. If they get stuck on a concept or need assistance the teacher and fellow students are just a click away through the use of email and online discussion forums. E-learning courses provide also access to education for older and working professionals, but there are difficulties to overcome if online education is to spread further in Africa. Many students do face some difficulties accessing course materials online, mainly due to slow internet access.

Internet revolution in Nigeria

Despite the high cost of internet access in Africa, bandwidth to Africa is expected to grow dramatically as the continent is gaining internet connectivity faster than any other region in the world. Nigeria was able to boost its online population, raising its status to having the most internet users in Africa. Internet connectivity is also spreading to smaller Nigerian cities and rural areas via innovative technologies. This surge in internet usage is attributed to Horizon Wireless‘ experimental broadband internet project that uses WiMAX to provide Nigerians with affordable internet access. The internet landscape in Nigeria is fast changing; Ten years ago, a public cyber cafe used to be the only access individuals had to the internet, now there are internet service providers (ISPs) in various shades and sizes, delivering direct access to individuals and businesses on a variety of platforms. CDMA-based providers are upgrading their networks to the more advanced EVDO technology. GSM operators who were initially reluctant to tap into this area are now aggressively marketing internet services as part of their offerings. Internet access is fast becoming a commodity item in Nigeria. The size of Nigeria's population allows for much growth in the sector. Investment opportunities lie in areas such as internet access infrastructure; ICT applications for government and educational institutions; Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services; and developing online payment solutions.