KIGALI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Digital technologies hold key to unlocking development in Africa if much effort is put into investing in technology infrastructure, delegates attending the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) conference said here on Tuesday.
"To ensure that no one is left behind in digital connectivity in Africa, we need to ensure more businesses have access to devices and affordable internet data because digital technologies have the potential to unlock development in Africa," said Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer of MTN Group at the ongoing GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2022 which kicked off Tuesday in the Rwandan capital city Kigali.
The three-day congress at the Kigali Convention Center, the first of its kind in Africa, attracted over 3,000 business leaders and policymakers within the Africa region's mobile ecosystem to discuss the continent's ambition to enhance the power of connectivity.
Morafo said that investing in the required digital infrastructure and ensuring no one is left behind will drive the growth of digital technologies, especially mobile connectivity on the continent.
"We must leverage private sector and government-led projects against civil society's reach to the communities we seek change for, and we must connect the unconnected one way or the other," said Paula Ingabire, Rwandan Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation.
She emphasized that strong collaboration between the private and public sectors will drive Africa's inclusive digital transformation.
"Africa stands at a unique moment in time. Over the past two decades, mobile growth across Sub-Saharan Africa has been phenomenal. Today, 46 percent of the population is connected and subscribed to mobile services, rising to 50 percent by 2025," said Mats Granryd, director general of GSMA. "In 2021, mobile technologies and services generated around eight percent of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting 3.2 million jobs across the region. Imagine what Africa will be when everyone is connected."
To continue the momentum and create more jobs and foster inclusion and reduce inequality, Granryd said that there is a need to ensure that everyone has access to connectivity and can benefit from all it offers.
"Africa is home to creative and tech-savvy youth, looking for the right platform to contribute solutions. We cannot afford to reduce them to a statistic, only, or sit idly by, as they seek opportunity outside of Africa," said Rwandan President Paul Kagame while formally opening the mobile congress.
He said that universal and meaningful connectivity for all can be a springboard, for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
"Digital technologies are a catalytic force for development in Africa, yet almost half of the low and middle-income countries do not have access to the internet even when living in areas with broadband coverage. Digital infrastructure is key but it is not enough," said Kagame.
According to Kagame, to leverage the potential of connectivity, investment in digital skills and literacy must be integrated into national policies.
According to Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2022 report, 40 percent of the adult population is now connected to mobile internet services. However, the usage gap remains a challenge whereby 44 percent live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, but do not yet use mobile internet services.
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