Extractivism as a concept has extended from its traditional interpretation in the natural resources sector to other economic sectors with contextual definitions ranging from; a mode of capital accumulation, an economic model, and within a socio economic lens, a collection of narratives & ideologies, all marked by destructive and or exploitative tendencies. Digital extractivism therefore refers to extractivism fostered by digitalization of goods and services, and driven by the proliferation of digital technologies as digitalization, and the digital economy ramp up. To leverage the potential digitalization presents however, digital infrastructure, a foundational pillar necessary for this, has to be self-sustaining i.e affordable, accessible and reliable. This is not the case as the African digital infrastructure ecosystem is dominated by profit driven, foreign Multinational Telecom Companies, and Uganda is no exception. These established themselves in the market favored by; cheaper access to capital & skilled labor, superior tech & knowledge coupled with weak legal & policy frameworks in the region.
Extractivism refers to colonial practices that have existed over the last several hundred years with the goal of wealth and resource accumulation, regardless of the oppressions that geographically separate taker and giver. Digital extractivism is a form of extraction that’s made possible by digitization and exacerbated through borderless capitalism (Neema Iyer - Pollicy).
Focusing on National Telecom Operators (NTOs) of countrywide telecommunication networks in Uganda, this desk review sought to explore the role of ownership/control of these entities in contributing to digital extractivism. It was guided by two objectives; one on mapping owners and controllers of these NTOs and another on establishing how then this leads to digital extractivism. The methodology adopted both a systematic mapping review and narrative literature review given the limited information available on digital extractivism and ownership of digital infrastructure in Uganda.
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