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During the last two decades, approximately forty African satellites have been successfully launched into orbit, significantly enhancing telecommunications capabilities and territorial surveillance across the continent. With several more satellites currently in the developmental phase, scheduled launches are anticipated within the upcoming months.
On Wednesday 1ᵉʳ November, the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop, launch, and operate an Earth observation satellite for Mauritius.
The partnership, which runs over 15 months, also takes into account the training of MRIC engineers at ISRO's facilities in India for the design and development of the satellite platform, as well as its associated systems and primary payload.
The new MoU follows a recent visit to Bengaluru by Mauritius' Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation (MITCI), Darsanand Balgobin (photo, right), and MRIC Board Chairman Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon. The delegation met with ISRO officials and discussed the technical details and application possibilities for putting a joint satellite into orbit.
The future joint microsatellite will be designed for remote sensing from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It will enhance Mauritius's earth observation capabilities and the help prevent and combat bushfires, floods, and erosion, and develop agriculture, among other things. On completion, all corresponding in-orbit operations will be carried out jointly by ISRO and MRIC, using MRIC's ground station.
India was not randomly chosen as the technical partner of that project. Several years ago, it signed technological cooperation agreements with four African countries, including Mauritius. The country is committed to providing substantial support for the scientific and technological development of these countries.
Samira Njoya
To accelerate the realization of their digital ambitions, governments are teaming up with reliable and experienced partners to get technical support for some projects.
On Wednesday, November 1, the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a memorandum of understanding at the United Nations House in Mbabane.
According to a UNDP press release, the agreement aims, among other things, to improve universal access to affordable ICT services; provide digital services and other government functions; and support the effective implementation of the national digital strategy developed under ESCCOM's leadership.
"This agreement will play a pivotal role in accelerating our progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals encompass vital indicators such as reducing youth unemployment, bolstering food security, broadening access to ICTs, digitizing services, and fostering financial inclusion throughout Eswatini," said Mvilawemphi Dlamini (photo, left), ESCCOM's Chief Executive Officer.
The agreement calls for the creation of iHubs (innovation hubs) and digital technology action centers to deepen digital inclusion and improve youth employability. These centers will be designed as one-stop shops for ICT training, business development, business relations, financial services, and business mentoring.
The agreement is part of ESCCOM's efforts to develop digital technology and reduce the digital divide in the country. In June, ESCCOM announced the signature of a telecoms agreement with the Mozambique Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM). Ultimately, the agreement with the UNDP will, among other things, help reduce the digital divide in Eswatini, with a focus on marginalized people, notably young people, women, and the disabled.
Samira Njoya
The African continent has a number of assets to help it become a leader in the field of artificial intelligence, including its young population. However, it needs to groom those assets to be able to capitalize on available opportunities.
The UK and partners have pledged £80 million ($100 million) to accelerate development in several African countries through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The investment was announced, by the British government, at the AI Safety Summit held in England from November 1 to 2.
The first phase of the project, which will initially focus on sub-Saharan Africa, aims to, among other things: create or develop at least 8 responsible AI research labs in African universities; help at least 10 countries create robust regulatory frameworks for responsible, fair and safe AI; help reduce barriers to entry for African "AI-innovators" into the private sector.
"This collaborative initiative is of paramount importance as it empowers African countries to become producers, not just consumers, in the AI revolution, ensuring that we are at the forefront of shaping our own future and driving sustainable progress across the continent," said Paula Ingabire, Rwanda's Minister of Information Technology and Innovation.
According to a UK government's press release, this new collaboration is part of a wider UK commitment to harnessing the opportunities of AI and “ensure its use as a force for good.”
As part of the partnership, AI scholarships will be awarded to students at African universities. The collaboration will also support investment in the creation of data models ensuring an accurate representation of Africa. In addition, it will enable the establishment of responsible AI governance frameworks to manage the potential risks associated with its use.
Samira Njoya
Over the past few years, African governments have multiplied initiatives to combat insecurity. The integration of digital technology is likely to bolster those initiatives.
On Wednesday, November 1, the Ugandan government launched its Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), known as digital license plates. The system aims to integrate digital tracking chips into all car license plates registered in the country.
"The Intelligent Transport Monitoring System, which will work in conjunction with a network of cameras and sensors, is designed to monitor traffic flow, identify and track vehicles, and detect incidents in real-time. This collective effort aims to make our roads safer for everyone," said Minister of Security Jim Muhwezi.
The said project is the result of a 10-year agreement signed in 2021, between the country's government and Russian company Global Security JSC. Under the agreement, the Russian company will provide a system that involves fitting Global Position Tracking (GPS) chips in vehicles at the owners’ expense.
The project is being piloted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Ministry of Security. The first phase aims to equip all government vehicles with these chips. The second phase, scheduled to start on February 1, 2024, will cover all other vehicles and motorcycles.
Through this project, the government aims to considerably reduce insecurity in the country. To this end, integrated plates with a security chip will be synchronized at the time of registration, with a security device capable of indicating the vehicle's location in real time. The project will also create various employment opportunities, with ongoing training initiatives in Uganda.
Samira Njoya
In line with its digital ambitions, the Nigerian government wants to connect 70% of the population to broadband Internet by 2025. The executive, in collaboration with its partners, is actively implementing measures to accomplish this crucial objective.
Tizeti Network Limited, a solar-based internet service provider, announced on Wednesday, November 1 its plan to connect 15 Nigerian states thanks to long-term funding from the Chapel Hill Denham Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIDF).
"Chapel Hill Denham is excited to partner with Tizeti in the expansion of a fast, reliable broadband network across Nigeria. The digital economy is a key strategic pillar for Nigeria to accelerate its economic and social development, and providing access to affordable internet services is crucial to achieving the true potential of digitization," said NIDF CEO Anshul Rai.
The new initiative is in line with NIDF's strategy to fund partners to support the acceleration of digital infrastructure development in Nigeria. The aim is to support the government in its vision of achieving 70% broadband penetration by 2025. For Tizeti Network Limited, the funding supports its expansion objectives in Nigeria, where the company currently serves over 3 million subscribers.
According to Tizeti Network Limited executives, the funding will build the last-mile digital infrastructure that will shift Internet capacity to other Nigerian states and “catalyze sustained development, value creation, improved connectivity, and a deeper and wider digital inclusion net.” As a reminder, in February 2023, the country had 156.9 million Internet subscriptions, according to the regulator. The broadband penetration rate was 48.49%.
Samira Njoya
In contrast to Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya currently lack a national AI strategy. Nonetheless, the three countries were invited to an international meeting aimed at a framework to oversee this transformative technology.
On Wednesday, November 1, at the AI Safety Summit in London, England, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda signed the Bletchley Declaration, a global convention on AI-related risks. The aim is to collectively understand and manage the risks of this technology and to ensure that it is developed and deployed safely and responsibly.
"We must acknowledge that our world is experiencing significant transformation driven by the increased application of digital technologies. [...] AI at its very core offers our generation a historical opportunity to create ubiquitous access to insights and intelligence for global development. However, we must remain conscious of the need to ensure the safe ethical, and inclusive development of this phenomenon," said Bosun Tijani, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Since the advent of ChatGPT, an AI-based conversational agent developed by Californian technology firm OpenAI, solutions using this technology have proliferated around the world. Firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have also positioned themselves in this segment, and have stepped up their investments. They have signed several partnerships with AI companies to accelerate the development of their in-house technology or invest in promising solutions. However, authorities at various levels are growing concerned about the dimension of AI technology.
Last week, the United Nations decided to set up an advisory committee on AI. "AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity.[...] AI could scale up and amplify the work of Governments, civil society, and the United Nations across the board. [...] But all this depends on AI technologies being harnessed responsibly and made accessible to all — including the developing countries that need them most,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who attended the second day of the AI Safety Summit in London, yesterday.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China are among the signatories of the Bletchley Declaration.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
By providing a secure and efficient means of verifying individuals' identities, digital IDs are essential tools for advancing economic growth, promoting transparency, and safeguarding human rights throughout Africa.
The Kenyan government has kicked off the pilot phase of its digital ID initiative and Maisha Namba program. This was disclosed during a recent digital ID briefing, on November 1, by Professor Julius Bitok, the Principal Secretary of Immigration and Citizen Services. The initial phase is focused on young individuals who are applying for their first identification cards as they turn 18 years old.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to transition from the existing second-generation IDs to the new Maisha Card. In that context, the pilot phase aims to identify and address any potential issues to ensure a smooth nationwide rollout.
Julius Bitok noted that "All Kenyans turning 18 years in whichever part of Kenya will be issued with a Maisha Card on a pilot basis. This way, we will establish whether there are any errors or issues before we do the penultimate launch."
The Maisha card is set to replace current national IDs and will encompass various personal identifier data over a transition period of 2 to 3 years. These digital IDs will enable convenient transactions using iris and fingerprints.
President William Ruto previously announced that Kenyans will receive the new digital identification cards starting in December. Also, the official launch of the digital ID platform, initially slated for October 2, was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Over 100,000 booklets containing frequently asked questions about the new identification system have been printed to provide information to Kenyan citizens.
Hikmatu Bilali
The coronavirus pandemic accelerated digital transformation initiatives across Africa but, some countries, like Senegal, were already embarked on that path long before the pandemic. They are still pushing ahead with numerous initiatives.
Senegal's Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, in partnership with the German international cooperation agency GIZ, unveiled GovStack, a platform that dematerializes administrative procedures, at a workshop organized by Sénégal Numérique (SENUM) on Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27. GovStack will enable the dematerialization of over 800 administrative procedures.
"Digitization means we can move faster and make things easier for the administration. It's a platform that's available and free to everyone. We are helping the Senegalese government to understand the tool, its scope, and its benefit for the administration," said Katharina Noussi, Program Manager at GIZ.
Senegal kickstarted the digitization of its administrative services in 2017. Since then, authorities have multiplied partnerships and initiatives in the health, justice, and administrative sectors. In 2022, SENUM signed an agreement with the mayors of the 19 communes in the Dakar department to digitize civil status records. Last July, XOF8 billion (around $13 million) was allocated to set up the 2023-2027 Digital Justice Strategy, to build a digital judicial public service that will benefit all players and users in the sector.
The digitization of various administrative procedures should, among other things, improve the accessibility of public services to users, the efficiency and management of these services thanks to the automation of various tasks, and the exchange of data between government departments.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In the last decade, high-speed internet consumption has grown significantly across Africa. With Covid-19 bringing about new usages, the demand has further increased. Telecom operators are actively mobilizing to efficiently meet these heightened requirements.
The CEOs of six major telecoms groups operating in Africa - Orange, MTN, Airtel, Vodacom, Axian, and Ethio Telecom - have pledged to develop digital inclusion on the continent. On Tuesday, October 17, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Kigali, Rwanda, they expressed their willingness to continue investing in the local telecoms market during an exchange with Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, host of the MWC and also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Smart Africa.
In a joint statement, Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN Group, Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa, Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group, Frehiwot Tamru, CEO of Ethio Telecom, and Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO of Axian Group, said: "Together, we passionately believe in the power of mobile as a catalyst for economic and social inclusion across Africa. We openly invite other African Heads of state to engage with us in the search for solutions focused on deepening digital and financial inclusion on the continent for the benefit of all African citizens."
The telecom groups have already identified potential solutions that can facilitate comprehensive coverage of the continent with a high-quality mobile broadband network, ensuring affordable access to services. But for these solutions to materialize, they stressed the need for African governments to get involved and engage in in-depth collaboration.
Telecom operators are calling for tax and policy reforms. They believe that by reducing the amount of taxes on different segments (equipment, services, accessories, telephones, etc.), their operating costs will be positively impacted. The resulting reduction in expenditure will strengthen investment capital for the development of telecoms infrastructures across the continent, and support consumption. The same effect should be induced by infrastructure sharing, national roaming, and regulatory policy reform, among others.
Telecom groups are also calling for regulatory support for new models of digital infrastructure financing. The World Bank estimates that $100 billion will be needed to achieve universal connectivity in Africa by 2030. The necessary funds cannot come from telecom companies alone.
Last but not least, climate-friendly infrastructure is an investment that telecom groups are more than willing to make. Given the beneficial impact of solar energy on the operating and maintenance costs of telecom towers and other infrastructures and its contribution to companies' carbon footprints, the CEOs of Orange, MTN, Airtel, Vodacom, Ethio Telecom, and Axian also expressed the need for concerted regulatory policies that promote access to green solutions.
Mobile operators claim to have invested over $70 billion, over the past 10 years, in the construction of mobile infrastructure in Africa. They estimate their annual capital expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa at between $6 and $8 billion, or nearly 20% of their revenues. Although this action today gives nearly 85% of the African population access to mobile broadband connectivity (compared with a global average of 95%), more than 680 million people remain unsubscribed to mobile broadband services either because of the high cost of access, or the inaccessibility of suitable phones.
According to the six groups, the telecoms industry currently contributes 8.1% to the Sub-Saharan region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That's around $170 billion. By 2023, the target is to reach $210 billion by raising the mobile Internet usage rate from the current 33% to 50% by 2030.
The 2Africa cable, spanning 45,000 kilometers, is poised to connect 33 countries across three continents, enhancing connectivity for more than three billion individuals.
The 2Africa subsea cable from the eponymous consortium led by the American company Meta has landed off the coast of Dakar in Senegal. Its installation began on Tuesday, October 31, with the arrival of a cable ship from Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), a Nokia subsidiary entrusted with the construction of the cable. ASN will carry out the installation works in collaboration with Sonatel, the telecommunications firm overseeing the construction of 2Africa's landing station in Senegal.
"We are in the digital age. Therefore, we anticipate a more than double surge in 4G traffic in the next five years, alongside the emergence of 5G, which will further catalyze an exponential spike in usage. Therefore, it is imperative to equip Senegal adequately to meet the escalating demands from our customers," said Sékou Dramé, CEO of Sonatel.
The introduction of the 2Africa cable reinforces Senegal's domestic broadband infrastructure. Presently, the nation is linked to four international fiber optic submarine cables, namely SAT-3 (South Atlantic 3), ACE (Africa Coast to Europe), ATLANTIS-2, and SHARE (Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express). Nonetheless, recurrent outages across these networks are causing disruptions to internet services across the country and in neighboring regions.
In early August, cuts to the ACE, WACS, and SAT-3 cables resulted in internet outages and slowed connectivity, for weeks, in several African countries, including Senegal.
The connection to a new cable will improve connectivity, offering better business opportunities, enhancing investment competitiveness, and stimulating growth by accelerating progress in several sectors, notably education and health. Senegal has 19.2 million Internet subscribers, representing a 108.31% penetration rate, according to the latest statistics from the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (ARTP).
Samira Njoya
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African countries need reliable internet connections to achieve the objectives set out in their respective digital transformation agendas. Consequently, the need for these countries to collaborate with partners capable of bolstering their ambitions has become increasingly imperative.
On the sidelines of the China-Africa Digital Capacity Building Cooperation, Uganda signed an agreement with China to enhance connectivity nationwide.
Commenting on the new collaboration, the country’s ICT Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, said that it would help build the infrastructure needed to ensure internet access for the whole country.
"China is ahead of us in terms of technology and has been a key pillar in connecting internet cables to different parts of the country. Through this cooperation, we shall build new infrastructure, equipment, and training and provide services to all Ugandans," said Chris Baryomunsi.
This new initiative is part of the Ugandan government's ambition to accelerate digital transformation to support economic recovery, create unlimited opportunities for youth, and achieve "Vision 2040". Last March, the executive secured 1,800 billion shillings (477.4 million USD) in funding from the World Bank to expand Internet access in the country.
At the end of this partnership, which is already being implemented, Uganda will benefit from improved Internet connectivity coverage at affordable costs. The partnership will also enable people in remote areas to familiarize themselves with the public services set up by the government via digital platforms.
Samira Noya
Digital Realty aims to position itself as one of the most important data providers on the African continent. To achieve this, management is making strategic decisions.
Medallion Data Centres, a Nigerian data center provider, has been renamed Digital Realty, after its parent company. The name was officialized at a ceremony held in Lagos on Friday, October 27.
"We have made a strategic decision to align with Digital Reality and we are proud to be part of one of America’s largest Public Companies. For over a decade, we have been at the forefront of the Nigerian digital economy through the provisioning of carrier-neutral data center services in both Lagos and Abuja," said Ikechukwu Nnamani (photo, center), founder of Medallion Data Centres.
The Nigerian data center provider entered Digital Realty’s portfolio in 2021. At the time, the American firm, which owns over 300 facilities in more than 50 cities worldwide, decided to finance the Nigerian firm’s expansion on the continent with a $500 million package. Before this name change, Medallion Data Centres inaugurated a new data center in the city of Lagos on October 24 to expand its capacities.
"We are going to take advantage of the huge opportunity to both meet growing customer demand for connectivity in Africa and improve the internet infrastructure that serves over one billion people who don’t yet have proper access to the benefits of the Internet," said Mike Hollands (photo, right), Digital Realty's Vice President for Market Development.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In Africa, digital transformation is accelerating across all countries. However, some countries are more focused on quickly achieving their digital goals than others. In Rwanda for instance, the government is hard at work to complete some of its digital projects by 2024.
The Rwandan government will soon launch a unique digital identification system (SDID) and deploy 5th generation (5G) technology in the country. Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, confirmed this recently in a podcast produced by the private Rwandan newspaper, The New Times.
"We’ll start very soon with what we call the pre-enrolment phase which is about enrolling citizens and getting their biometrics. The current ID that we have is given only to people who are 16 years and above, but we’ll provide the digital ID from birth. That’s one exciting aspect of the digital ID," she said.
The new system, which is currently being rolled out, is financed to the tune of $40 million by the World Bank. It will be based on a national population register containing the biographical and biometric data of all Rwandan citizens, including those from the diaspora and foreigners living in the country.
During the same broadcast, the Minister also mentioned that the first 5G tests were recently successfully carried out in the country from the stratosphere using a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (HAPS). During the test, 5G connectivity was provided for around 73 minutes at a maximum altitude of 16.9 km, ts2.space reveals. These ongoing initiatives, among others, are part of the Rwandan government's commitment to enhancing public service delivery across diverse sectors. They aim to expand internet accessibility across the nation, encompassing even remote rural communities, and providing an identity to every citizen.
Samira Njoya
Last May, the Kenyan Minister of ICT revealed the government's intention to offer locally assembled smartphones for sale. A few months later, thanks to a public-private partnership, the project is becoming a reality.
On Monday, October 30, Kenyan President William Ruto (photo, center) officially launched East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), a low-cost smartphone assembly plant located in the town of Athi River. The fruit of a partnership between the government, private telecommunications companies Safaricom and Jamii, and Chinese firm Shenzhen TeleOne Technology, EADAK is expected to assemble between 1.2 and 1.4 million smartphones each year.
They will be available nationwide in the stores of the two local private partners and on the Masoko e-commerce platform.
"The EADAK-assembled smartphone will cost about Sh7,500 and comes with pre-installed e-Citizen to enable more Kenyans to access government services easily [...] We have the benefit of both cheaper devices, approximately 30 percent less, compared to imports and creating jobs locally. The EADAK plant currently employs 300 people," says President William Ruto.
The move is part of the government's drive to accelerate Kenya's digital transformation. Earlier this year, President Ruto secured $390 million in funding from the World Bank to implement various projects aimed at accelerating the digital economy. With EADAK, the Kenyan authorities aim to facilitate access to ICT gadgets for people in a country with 29.7 million active smartphones, which represents 46.9% of the 63.3 million cell phones connected to the network, according to the Communications Authority.
"The launch of EADAK reaffirms our belief in the power of connectivity to transform lives and drive economic progress. [...] This partnership underscores our relentless pursuit to expand 4G access and empower Kenyans through affordable, high-quality smartphones, create employment opportunities, and grow our economy," said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa (photo, right).
Adoni Conrad Quenum