BBC- Africa Have Your Say

World leaders are meeting in Tunisia to discuss the digital divide, but is technological change helping Africa to move forward?

There are 85 million mobile phones in Africa, many used for communication that land lines have failed to deliver. And where there is no bank, you can now use your phone to transfer money. Farmers can find out commodity prices before selling their stock and health messages can be delivered by text, depending of course on good connections.

However cost and access are still huge issues for the majority wanting to join the new information society.

What is your experience? What is technology doing for you? Do you feel left behind by new technology? Or do most people not miss what they never had or needed? What could technology be doing for Africa's development?

Send us your comments and experiences using the form on the right, or text us to +44 77 86 20 20 08. If you would like to take part in the Africa Have Your Say radio programme on Thursday 17 November at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Among the people on this discussion:

• A guest from the UN conference on the internet in Tunisia Mr.Daniel Annerose who's the founder of an NGO called Manobi. An operator of mobile and internet services designed for rural areas in developing countries. He's based in Senegal.  http://www.manobi.net/worldwide/
• We'll have some mini clips with people in Nairobi talking about why they love their mobile phones....
• People from Kiambu outside Nairobi talking about how they engage or don't with the digital age, with farmers looking up commodity prices etc.
• Brian from South Africa who runs a company called "Wizzit - my bank in my pocket"... they set people up with bank accounts without them having to physically go to a bank. 
• Abdirahman Eynte of Hiiraan Online . http://www.hiiraan.com
• An internet cafe in Ghana called "Busy Internet" to find out what people are using the net for.

Source: BBC Africa, Nov 16, 2005