Africa’s Digital Divide Narrows as Microsoft Hits 117 Million Users and Supports Agri-SMEs
The connectivity milestone builds on Microsoft’s 2022 commitment to deepen internet access, promote digital skills, and enhance AI readiness in Africa.
Microsoft has announced a major milestone in its efforts to expand digital access across Africa, providing internet connectivity to over 117 million people and surpassing its 2025 target. The announcement was made during the B20 South Africa Summit, where the company also revealed a strategic collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the continent’s agriculture sector through blended finance and digital technology.
The connectivity milestone builds on Microsoft’s 2022 commitment to deepen internet access, promote digital skills, and enhance AI readiness in Africa. Achieved through partnerships with local Internet Service Providers, hardware manufacturers, and multilateral organizations, this milestone represents a significant step in bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive economic growth.
Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized that connectivity is critical for AI adoption and broader digital participation. She noted that internet access enables communities to leverage technology for healthcare, education, and economic activity, highlighting examples such as improved telemedicine in rural Kenya, affordable device programs in South Africa, and community broadband initiatives.
In addition to connectivity, Microsoft announced the creation of a pan-African financing facility with the AfDB to support agribusiness SMEs. This initiative aims to combine financial investment with digital tools and AI-enabled solutions to increase productivity, enhance climate resilience, and modernize Africa’s agricultural sector. By integrating technology with finance, the project seeks to create a scalable model for sustainable economic development across the continent.
Microsoft and the AfDB emphasized that collaborative efforts between technology and finance are essential to unlocking the potential of AI, digital inclusion, and economic opportunity in Africa.
