New communication technologies may be a mixed blessing for tropical African states. They could foster development, by promoting health, education, agriculture, entertainment, business and tourism; and also enhance international trade and regional Cupertino. However, these technologies might accentuate the gap between the rich and poor, creating a society characterised by an information-rich elite and an information-poor underclass. In an age when information is power, this could devastate countries that are facing the problems of poverty, disease, hunger, and political instability.
