"This report is the outcome of an expert mission, undertaken at the request of several Member States in the African region, by Unesco with the co-operation of the International Telecommunication Union and the Economic Commission for Africa. The mission approached its task from the point of view of the economic feasibility of a regional satellite broadcasting system. By studying educational needs and costs, and projections of population and gross national product; believing that the massive use of television would be necessary to solve the problems of education and information dissemination in the region; having estimated the costs of the various components of a system for television distribution by satellite - the mission evolved a model of a system which met the criteria it established. The report describes that model and mentions a number of variations to it and a possible phased implementation. As the mission itself points out, the report is not to be construed as a recommendation for an African satellite system, but assesses the potentialities of this new technology in the African context, and identifies some possible options worth detailed investigation." (Foreword)