Lesotho Calls for Affordable Connectivity to Bridge Global AI Divide
Addressing delegates, Ramashamole said broadband infrastructure, while essential, does not by itself guarantee digital inclusion.
Lesotho has called for affordable internet access, reliable energy infrastructure and stronger digital foundations to ensure developing countries can participate meaningfully in the artificial intelligence (AI) economy, warning that connectivity alone is insufficient to bridge global AI divides.
The call was made by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Kanono Ramashamole, during discussions under Cluster 2: Bridging AI Divides — Capacity-Building, Access and Digital Foundations at the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum and AI for Good in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ramashamole, who is part of the Lesotho delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara, said developing countries must be empowered to participate in AI not only as users of emerging technologies but also as co-creators of AI policies and technologies. The delegation also includes the Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation. The global meetings began on July 6 and run through the week.
Addressing delegates, Ramashamole said broadband infrastructure, while essential, does not by itself guarantee digital inclusion. He noted that Lesotho has achieved 100 percent broadband coverage, yet only about half of its population uses the internet regularly, underscoring affordability as one of the country’s biggest barriers to wider digital participation and AI adoption.
He also highlighted the critical role of reliable electricity in supporting digital transformation. In some parts of Lesotho, he said, residents still travel long distances simply to charge their mobile phones, limiting access to digital services and making meaningful participation in the AI economy even more challenging.
Ramashamole further stressed the need for a coordinated global framework to address fragmented and poorly governed datasets, echoing concerns raised earlier by the Deputy Prime Minister. He said many developing countries continue to struggle with data that is dispersed across institutions, lacks proper governance frameworks, or is not structured in ways that support responsible AI development.
According to Ramashamole, Lesotho views investment in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and open-source technologies as practical approaches to strengthening national AI readiness. He cited the country’s participation in the recent Open Source Week as an example of ongoing efforts to build digital skills and expand technical capacity.
“Lesotho is taking concrete steps to ensure that it is not merely a consumer of AI technologies, but a co-creator of the policies, platforms and digital foundations that will shape the future of AI.”
– Kanono Ramashamole, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lesotho
The discussions in Geneva are expected to contribute to international efforts to reduce AI disparities and ensure developing countries play a meaningful role in shaping the future of global AI governance.
