Lacina Kone from Smart Africa on unlocking Africa’s potential to reach 70% connectivity usage

In a recent interview with TechAfrica News, Lacina Kone, the CEO of Smart Africa, shared valuable insights about the organization’s efforts to drive digital transformation across the African continent. Kone discussed Smart Africa’s policy pillars and how they are contributing to the digitalization of Africa. The organization has implemented various initiatives to ensure citizens in rural and remote areas have access to affordable and reliable internet connectivity, which is crucial for bridging the digital divide.

Kone also highlighted the role of the private sector in driving the digitalization of Africa and discussed the initiatives in place to support entrepreneurship. Public-private partnerships are crucial for Africa’s digital transformation, and international partners can play a significant role in supporting these efforts. Smart Africa has supported successful e-Government initiatives in member states that have improved service delivery to citizens.

If you look at the ecosystem in Africa you see 42% are connected, 30% are in the usage gap and 28% are in a coverage area. As we move to covere the rural areas, we shouldn’t forget the usage gap. The connectivity in Africa has the potential to reach 70% usage by 2025 if we adress 4 key elemnts – affordability, acess to devices, providing local content and build the trust in the technology.

Lacina Kone, CEO, Smart Africa

Kone emphasized that as the organization moves to cover rural areas, it is important not to forget the usage gap, which represents 30% of the ecosystem in Africa. Addressing affordability, access to devices, providing local content, and building trust in technology are four key elements to achieving a 70% usage rate of connectivity in Africa by 2025. To attract investment and funding for digital infrastructure development across the continent, Smart Africa has implemented various resource mobilization strategies.