The Global Communication Needs of the New Nations of Africa

The new nations of Africa have unique telecommunications problems which result primarily from the recent history of the continent. Currently the paramount needs are for skilled personnel and for adequate long-distance communications. The training of personnel, especially those to fill top-level positions, must be treated as a number-one priority. The traditional step-by-step evolution of long-distance communications cannot be followed; instead, means for accelerated progress to meet the needs of the jet age must be found. The development of communication satellites could be of far greater importance to Africa than to the highly developed areas of the world.