In Cape Town, a ministerial forum organized by Huawei and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) brought together politicians and key figures from the technology sector from across Africa to evaluate and support the continent’s digital ambitions.
They pledged to support the creation of an inclusive and sustainable digital continent. Huawei Vice President Tonny Bao, Digital Council Africa CEO Juanita Clark, GSMA Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Angela Wamola, and ATU Secretary-General John Omo signed documents addressing three critical areas.
These areas are: Ubiquitous Connectivity for an Intelligent Future; Taking the Digital Leap: A Digitalisation Blueprint for National Prosperity; and Cloud Computing: Striding Towards the Intelligent World.
There is a digital divide on the African continent, and they are facing significant challenges in creating sustainable policies. Additionally, they have a long road ahead to create jobs and establish affordable digital infrastructure.
ATU Secretary-General John Omo stated that by 2023, Africa had more than 600 million internet users, with internet penetration reaching 43% of the population, emphasizing the need for further progress in this area.
He also noted that two-thirds of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to electricity, and in rural areas, the access rate drops to as low as 23%.
Hloni Mokenela, Managing Director of Africa Analysis, highlighted that Africa is only on track to achieve 10 out of 144 sustainable development goals by 2030, stressing the urgency of rapid action in some areas.
GSMA’s Wamola pointed out that Africa’s population potential is not being fully leveraged. South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, emphasized that digital transformation should promote social inclusion and ensure no one is left behind.
He also pointed out that the use of renewable energy is a crucial component of the Digital Transformation Strategy.
