By Dr. Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Government and Policy Director for Africa at Intel & Rhonda Foxx, Head of Social Equity Policies and Engagements at Intel
The global pandemic has accelerated the need for a swift and equitable worldwide digital transformation to address the digital divide. Achieving this demands a particular focus on critical geographies like Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which experience lower connectivity rates. In Africa alone, in 2019, mobile broadband penetration was only 34%, well below the world average of 53% according to the International Telecommunication Union. And with one of the world’s largest youth populations, this has even graver implications. With nearly 60% of its 1.32 billion residents being under the age of 25, Africa has a unique potential to pioneer a new era of innovation and emerging technologies. A rapid digital transformation across Africa is key to driving more equitable innovation and sustainable economic growth.
An equitable transformation requires governments and industry working together to accelerate broadband access by investing in economic development, digital infrastructure, and digital readiness. All of which are crucial elements to increasing broadband penetration across the continent of Africa.
Below are a few ways that Intel’s global Governments, Markets & Trade team is helping to forge a more equitable digital transformation throughout Africa.
Graphic Sources: Smart Broadband 2025 issued by SMART Africa.