Without ICT advancement of governments, the Information Economy Report suggests, African countries will be placed in a position where innovation and useful technology will have to be accessed by other African countries which caught onto the tech wave, or more complex, innovation from abroad.

U.S. Tech Giants and What They’re Doing

Government ICT breakthroughs aside, tech giants have made their way to the continent, many to push efforts which will aid countries in establishing stable tech industries.

Google recently announced the completion of a balloon broadband experiment which could provide internet access for South Africans in rural areas and ultimately the continent’s population of 1 billion.

Microsoft — which ushered in the 4Afrika mobile phone initiative earlier this year — is working alongside Google in the white space broadband innovation hunt. By establishing reliable internet across the continent, the current 16 percent of internet users would greatly increase. This would open up unfathomable opportunities for tech entrepreneurs — who have without a great deal of resources —  already created incredible apps and software.

Although IBM’s research lab will focus on the development of “energy, water, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, human mobility and public safety,” India Times reported, the findings and action plans will be tech based, creating opportunities for techies, scientists and engineers — all of which play a role in fueling ICT development.

Tech Entrepreneur Takeover?

National ICT advancement and infrastructure is essential in stabilizing countries, because it presents global competitiveness and opens the door for further technology development. If given access to tools, resources and people through the global tech community — and the help of tech giants — Africa’s tech entrepreneurs have the power to make a huge impact across the continent’s ICT sectors.

Tech giants can essentially cancel out government reliance by building ICT infrastructures for Africa’s engineers and innovators.

Although the roughly 100 tech hubs in Africa are fairly new, with sustainability and revenue generation as end goals, many of them are making strides, IT Web reported.

Microsoft Ventures and Google (along with venture capital firm 88mph) have made efforts to nurture and fund African and African-focused start-ups, encouraging other companies to follow suit.

When the focus is turned not on the presence of tech giants and subsequent job creation, the notion of tech entrepreneurialism in Africa paving the way for advancement can be considered. Africa’s tech creators are just as vibrant and idea driven as tech entrepreneurs in any other part of the world. Having been deprived of opportunity, capital and resources, tech engineers and entrepreneurs posses a greater desire to showcase their talent and improves the lives of others.

So, yes the aid of tech giants establishing an ICT framework in Africa is essential — some would argue not as pertinent as job creation.

However, tech innovators in Africa may not be looking for employment from tech giants — they may very well be waiting for the companies to aid in presenting them with a fair entrepreneurial playing ground.