IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Promoting local languages and providing relevant, homegrown content could increase internet adoption across the African continent, a new report finds. The report (pdf), published by the Internet Society, a non-profit dedicated to internet policy, finds that despite the increased access to mobile and telecom infrastructure in Africa, internet adoption was still lagging behind.

The continent’s full connectivity is being hampered by the lack of pertinent programs targeting its mobile users, and the availability of those programs in their own languages, says the report. In Africa, mobile is still the primary way of getting online, given the low availability of fixed lines. However, the continent is the least connected region in the world, with only 303 million out of 565 million mobile users accessing the internet via mobile. This showcases that the “barrier to further adoption today is less of an infrastructural problem and more of a relevance one,” the report notes.

The President’s decision will forcibly push a flag-ship medical centre of excellence, the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC), under the auspices of incompetent and corrupt administrators who are eager to have access to an imagined pot of gold. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, who almost singlehandedly established the NCC two decades ago, against formidable odds, is perceived by government officials to be hindering their plan to dismantle the autonomy of the NCC and placing it under the poorly managed and money-losing Korle Bu Teaching Hospital administration.

As Africa becomes increasingly digitally connected, the introduction of e-governance could be a tool that increases government efficiency, accountability, and transparency.

Countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Mauritius have already introduced national ICT policies that established centralized information data centers as well as installing a national fiber-optic backbone network that increased internet accessibility and affordability. Their ICT strategies recognize the sector as an enabler of socioeconomic development, political decentralization, and sound governance.

Africa stands at the cusp of a technological revolution, spearheading innovation in the regulatory and governance landscapes. Through the dynamism of RegTech (regulatory technology) and GovTech (government technology), countries across the continent are not only embracing the future but actively shaping it.

With technologies such as big data analytics and fraud management solutions, as well as the partnership between the public and private sectors, governmental bodies are empowered to efficiently navigate extensive datasets, identify potential risks, and detect instances of non-compliance.

By recognising the complexities of African urban life, smart city projects can evolve into inclusive spaces where tech serves as a means rather than an end.

As African cities experience unprecedented urban growth, the integration of smart technologies presents both immense opportunities and structural challenges.

Much of the dominant smart city discourse originates from Western technocratic models, emphasising efficiency, surveillance and top-down governance. While these approaches often overlook Africa’s distinct urban realities − where histories of colonialism, informality and socio-economic inequality shape how technology is adopted − they are not the only challenge.

He said: “It is clear that ICTs now form the basis for manpower development in a knowledge economy and there is the exigency to reposition Africa for the unfolding challenge for rapid growth.

“From East to West, North to South Africa, the growing inseparable link between ICT and the marketplace is captured by the rapid deployment of Economic Resources Planning (ERP) in the corporate world,” Dr Spio-Garbrah stated at a public lecture in Accra.

In an exclusive interview with MWN, UM6P professor Radoine challenges the dominant industry narrative, which often prioritizes technological bells and whistles over human-centered solutions and sustainable practices.

Africa is on the cusp of a historic urban transformation. By 2050, the continent’s urban population is projected to double, with cities becoming hubs of economic activity and innovation.

The projects are designed to spearhead the development of e-health, e-learning and e-commerce in rural areas.

The African Smart Cities Investment Summit in Kigali which had over one thousand delegates, over eighty speakers, twenty-five sessions and over forty-nine sessions brought to the fore the importance and the necessity for African Smart Cities. The speakers from their own varied perspectives stated and alluded to the fact that cities cannot be built the way cities used to be conceptualised, developed and built. Cities need to be attuned with the realities of the 21st century. A smart city uses technology and data-driven solutions to improve the quality of life for its residents, enhance sustainability and maximise urban services. It was also stated that second and third cities have to be developed and built as smart cities.

Parliament on April 20 ratified the Smart Africa Alliance agreement, which aims to transform Africa into a digital single market and promote the use of technology and innovation across the African continent by 2030.

The move was presented by the Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire, and was highly welcomed by the plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, after 20 member countries ratified the agreement during the 10th Smart Africa Board Meeting on November 10, 2021.

The three elements of the Sway4edu project are helping to run elections, educate teachers and improve radio programming.

Satellite terminals provide Internet connectivity, with solar panels and batteries (where needed), laptops, tablets, a projector with screen, and loudspeakers.

Africa’s population is expected to double to 2,4-billion people by 2050. In the next 20 years the number of cities in Africa with more than 10-million inhabitants will also double.

Remote areas are pulling African economies down

Today, over 300-million Africans live more than 50km from the nearest fibre or cable broadband connection – 400-million people have no internet access at all.

Nur vier Prozent der afrikanischen Bevölkerung hat Zugang zum Internet, die Mehrheit davon lebt in Nordafrika oder in der Republik Südafrika. Schuld daran ist zum Teil die fehlende Infrastruktur, die den Preis für Hochgeschwindigkeits-Internet über Kabel in die Höhe treibt, berichtet die New York Times. 75 Prozent des afrikanischen Internet-Traffics wird über Großbritannien oder die USA geroutet. Dieser Umweg kostet afrikanische Staaten jährlich Milliarden an US-Dollar, die nicht anfallen würden, gäbe es eine adäquate Infrastruktur. E-Mails, die aus Afrika über Kabel gesendet werden, laufen alle durch ein und dieselbe Glasfaserkabelleitung, die vor der afrikanischen Westküste verläuft.

Going by the tagline “Building the African Internet,” the company is mainly known for launching Africa’s first broadband submarine cable system along the eastern and southern coastlines in 2009. This year’s initiatives revolve mainly around ICT and social development. Community projects across Africa are being carried out in an effort to further the company’s social investment programme in the name of Foundation Day.

The ICT sector has possibly the most to gain in an African economic boom, as ICTs underpin every development initiative in every industry. Connectivity in particular, is crucial for development. From agriculture and education to enterprise development, ICT is a crucial factor in modernising and optimising every sector.

And because nobody understands Africa like Africa itself, African ICT companies should be expanding across borders to deliver relevant solutions that support overall social and economic growth and development. Yet, we are seeing many African ICT players slow off the mark, hesitant to expand into neighbouring countries and losing the ICT market share race to major international players.

The recommendation follows a round-table discussion, attended by high-level politicians and leaders from Africa and Europe, during the fifth EU-Africa Business Forum, which took place in Brussels last week.

Christine Leurquin, VP, institutional relations, SES, chaired the panel, "Creating partnerships to bring e-schools to rural Africa: Offering incubator-backed seed and early-stage funding", which discussed how a lack of connectivity in Africa remains a key bottleneck to development.