News (1352)
To ensure internet access for all schoolchildren in Rwanda, the government has set up the "School Connectivity Program". Launched in March, the pilot phase of the project takes into account 500 schools throughout the country.
As part of this program, US firm Starlink recently deployed the internet in 50 schools across the country’s rural zones. The news was disclosed by the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation on July 5.
According to the source, the first stage of the project marks an important step towards reducing the digital divide and ensuring that all Rwandan schools have internet, especially in remote areas.
Announced a few months ago, the project falls under the government’s School Connectivity Program launched in March 2023. It is the product of a collaboration between the Rwandan government, Starlink, and a contribution from Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Through his foundation, Blair has committed to connecting 10% of the 500 schools in the pilot phase of the project.
With the Internet, the more than 18,000 students enrolled in the schools covered by the project will have access to online courses and be able to improve their academic results.
In Rwanda, 44% of the schools do not have access to the Internet. Last February, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, stated that about 3,000 of the 6,756 schools in Rwanda were not yet connected to the Internet.
Samira Njoya
Amidst the digital revolution, an increasing number of African countries are embracing technology to drive development, with the continent's sizable youth population presenting a significant advantage.
The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Liberia’s telecom watchdog, plans to launch a project that will revolutionize the sector and accelerate digital advancements nationwide. Known as the Liberia Digital Transformation Project, the initiative will be launched in collaboration with the government.
The project was unveiled by LTA’s Chairperson, Edwina Crump Zackpah. According to her, it will enable Liberians to embrace e-business solutions and smart technologies. This project will “unlock our digital economy,” she said.
The focus of the transformation project, Zackpah stressed, is to enhance technical skills in areas such as eCommerce, software utilization, and tech entrepreneurship. Seed funding will support sustainable tech solutions addressing local challenges.
The Liberia Digital Transformation Project is a huge step in Liberia's path to economic prosperity and digital advancement. Using technology, the West African country wants to shape its future and transform lives.
Digital transformation will unlock new opportunities, drive economic growth, and empower citizens in Liberia. The government's commitment to technological advancements underscores its vision for a prosperous and digitally-enabled future.
Hikmatu Bilali
Given the centrality of digitization in development, it is now crucial for the population to possess digital skills to adapt to forthcoming changes. Consequently, numerous governments are taking steps to empower their citizens, ensuring the achievement of developmental objectives.
The Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy has introduced a nationwide digital literacy program. To drive economic transformation, the initiative will establish laboratories across the country to enhance digital skills and literacy. Over 23,000 devices will be installed in educational institutions and ICT hubs.
During the inauguration of a digital laboratory at Maseno School in Kisumu County on July 5, Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the Ministry, emphasized that the initiative is in line with the government's objective of digitizing services. “We want our youth and the public at large to uptake digital skills so that they are relevant in the current operating environment,” he said.
The program aims to benefit youth and the public, aligning with the government's digitization efforts. The government is also facilitating e-commerce through free public Wi-Fi, a national addressing system, digital identification cards, and affordable smartphones. Discussions with global tech giants are underway to create online work opportunities for Kenyan youth.
Additionally, to maximize the utilization of the government's digital infrastructure, affordable smart mobile phones that are locally assembled will be launched in August, aiming to cater to a wide range of Kenyans.
Hikmatu Bilali
As Africa experiences a rapid digital transformation, countries on the continent grapple with digital security issues, and governments double down on efforts to protect various platforms that may be subject to cybercriminal attacks.
South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD) has been fined 5 million rands ($268,000) by the Information Regulator (IR), according to the South African government's official press agency.
The fine was levied following the DOJCD's non-compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (POPIA) and a previous antivirus software license renewal order issued by the regulator.
"The enforcement notice required [the department] to provide proof within 31 days of receipt of the notice that the Trend antivirus license, the SIEM [Security Information and Event Management] license, and the intrusion detection system license had been renewed," said the regulatory body.
The notice sent to the department specified that if it failed to comply with this requirement by June 9, 2023, it could face a fine of up to 10 million rand.
As the Department of Justice failed to comply, "[...] the regulatory body concluded that it did not comply with the enforcement notice served on it under POPIA. As a result, the regulatory authority fined the department an administrative penalty of 5 million rand for non-compliance with the enforcement notice," added the regulator.
In September 2021, the ministry suffered a major ransomware attack. Documents containing personal information were compromised and many files were lost. This attack disrupted courts’ operations and all electronic services provided by the ministry for several months.
Since then, the country's authorities have undertaken to secure the ministry's digital infrastructure.
Samira Njoya
Although financial inclusion has recently improved in West Africa, small businesses in the region still consider financing a major barrier to their growth. This new partnership intends to change this dynamic by providing loans.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently partnered with Orange Bank Africa, the digital bank of the Orange Group. The World Bank’s private sector arm made the announcement last Monday, July 3. The move, according to the source, aims to effectively and sustainably support, financially, small businesses in West Africa, including those in rural areas.
"This innovative investment demonstrates our firm commitment to leverage the power of digital financial services, especially in regions where financial inclusion remains limited. It also has the potential to set a precedent in digital lending," said Olivier Buyoya, IFC's Regional Director for West Africa.
Under the partnership, the IFC will partly cover loans made by Orange Bank Africa to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), in Ivory Coast, first, then in Senegal, and other West African countries, once the digital bank has received approval to operate there.
In detail, the IFC will cover 50% of the $30 million in loans that Orange Bank Africa will provide in the form of microcredits accessible via mobile to its clientele of small businesses and individuals. The bank, which has been operating in the Ivorian market since July 2020, also plans to allocate "larger loans" to local actors in the creative industry. This will enable the 100% digital bank to distribute an additional 300,000 loans by 2025.
According to Jean-Louis Menann-Kouamé, CEO of Orange Bank Africa, the partnership will accelerate the financing of MSMEs with concrete solutions, thus bolstering their productivity, making them more competitive on local and international markets, and creating jobs.
A year ago, in July also, the IFC inked a first agreement with Orange Bank Africa, to increase access to financing for agents and traders operating in the mobile money ecosystem in West Africa.
Samira Njoya
Burundi is getting ready to deploy 5G. Investments in networks are planned to accommodate this technology, which could potentially breathe new life into trade and services based on internet-dependent models.
The commercial launch of 5G mobile technology in Burundi is planned for July 2024. This is indicated in the schedule established by the Telecommunications Regulatory and Control Agency (ARCT) in its "Roadmap for the Deployment of Fifth-Generation Mobile (5G) in Burundi".
According to the regulator, "The first part consists of ensuring the availability of frequency bands identified for 5G but which are currently used for other purposes, through rearrangement and sharing mechanisms of said bands. The second part consists of planning the frequency bands allocated to 5G, and the third part consists of assigning the released and planned frequencies by the end of 2025".
To meet requirements for the launch, traffic-wise, the ARCT plans to assign each operator a continuous band of 60 to 100 MHz in the bands below 6 GHz and at least 800 MHz in millimeter wave bands (above 6 GHz). From next December, the regulator also plans to release spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz bands, with authorizations granted to test 5G from January 2024.
Deploying 5G in Burundi is key to the country’s strategy for digitizing its economy, and foster digital inclusion nationwide. Under the ARCT’s roadmap, 5G will not just represent a simple increase in data rates, but it will drive Burundi’s economic digitization.
Also, it will yield new uses, particularly thanks to the decrease in latency times, thus opening the way to new possibilities and applications, especially relative to the Internet of Things and connected objects in general.
According to the GSMA's "5G in Africa: Realising the potential" report, 5G mobile phone networks should represent, across their entire value chain, an economic contribution of $26 billion in Africa by 2030.
Samira Njoya
By 2050 Africa’s digital economy could grow to $712 billion or 8.5% of the continent’s GDP. Being a promising area, several African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, have been taking steps to speed up their digital transformation.
Amadou Coulibaly, the Ivoirian Minister of Digital Economy, inked on June 28, two memoranda of understanding with Cybastion Institute of Technology, a US tech consortium. The Ivoirian sealed the deals during a trip to the US. They will support two major projects in his country, knowingly the establishment of an administrative city and the construction of a data center.
The MoUs will enable the physical regrouping of all Ivoirian public bodies involved in the digital economy. They will also help set up an emergency data center where all of Côte d’Ivoire’s administrative data will be transferred, thus contributing to national digital sovereignty.
Two events led to the signing. The first is a trip to Côte d’Ivoire by a delegation from the US chamber of commerce, in 2022. Next is the signing of an MoU between the Ivoirian Ministry of Digital Economy and Cybastion Institute of Technology on December 15, 2022, during the Africa-USA Summit.
According to Thierry Wandji, CEO of Cybastion Institute of Technology, the new MoUs pave Côte d’Ivoire’s digital revolution.
Côte d’Ivoire, it should be emphasized, is seeking a lot of funds to implement its digital infrastructure program. Last October, the West African country said it needed $3 billion (over CFA2,000 billion) for the project.
Besides the recent MoUs, the two parties signed a framework contract to bolster cybersecurity support in Côte d'Ivoire.
Samira Njoya
The adoption of AI will have a significant impact on the continent. To foster sustainable adoption of AI in Africa, creating positive ecosystems among stakeholders is essential. This includes policymakers, research institutions, businesses, startups, and government agencies, working together to ensure the technology's long-term viability.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology announced, on June 30, it is finalizing a draft national AI policy. The policy aims to harness the potential of AI technology and promote its responsible and sustainable implementation nationwide.
Over the past five years, Ethiopia has witnessed significant growth in its AI sector, prompting the need for a well-defined policy framework. The draft AI policy document addresses crucial policy issues, focusing on both the existing realities and future directions for AI development and growth in the country.
The policy encompasses various key areas, including data management, human resource development, research and development, assistance and encouragement, infrastructure, law and ethics, and cooperation and coordination. By addressing these critical aspects, the Ethiopian government aims to create an enabling environment for AI innovation and adoption while safeguarding the rights and well-being of its citizens.
Huria Ali, Minister of State for Innovation and Technology, emphasized the importance of the draft policy, highlighting its incorporation of national guidelines for data sharing, research quality and ethics, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines for the utilization of human resources. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the policy, calling for the active involvement of regional states, municipal administrations, international institutions, partners, and stakeholders in its implementation.
Taye Girma, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Artificial Intelligence, expressed the institute's commitment to transforming Ethiopia into a center of excellence in AI. He emphasized the significance of developing and utilizing AI technology to propel Ethiopia's growth and development.
The development of the draft national policy on AI involved extensive collaboration. The Ethiopian Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Addis Ababa University's Policy Research Institute, representatives from the private sector, and other stakeholders actively participated in its formulation. This inclusive approach ensures that the policy reflects a wide range of perspectives and is aligned with Ethiopia's unique needs and aspirations.
As Ethiopia nears the finalization of its national AI policy, the country is poised to position itself as a hub for AI innovation and advancement. With a comprehensive framework in place, Ethiopia aims to leverage AI's transformative power to drive economic growth, enhance public services, and address societal challenges while upholding ethical standards and ensuring inclusivity.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology is set to unveil the finalized national policy on artificial intelligence in the coming months, heralding a new era of AI development and deployment in Ethiopia.
According to the “State of AI in Africa 2023 report,” The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in African countries will have a significant impact on various aspects of life that involve human intelligence and interaction. AI technologies can be utilized by businesses and institutions to customize tasks, streamline processes, foster innovation, and enhance and support staff operations.
By 2030, PwC predicts that the global gross domestic product (GDP) will witness a significant boost of over $15 trillion due to the integration of AI and related technologies.
Hikmatu Bilali
In 2021, Gabon started a three-year acceleration plan for economic transformation. This comprises several priority projects including the construction of a national datacenter to store all administrative data.
Last Thursday, June 29, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy, Jean Pierre Doukaga Kassa, and the CEO of the Indian company Shapoorji-Pallonji, Ransit Gajave, signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a national data center in Gabon.
The Ministry of Digital Economy said on social media that the project is a high-priority one. Thus, “he instructed the general manager of the Digital Heritage and Infrastructure Company (SPIN) to sign the memorandum with Shapoorji-Pallonji, which holds a leading position in India for data center construction.”
Before the MoU’s signing, a delegation from the Indian contractor was in Gabon last March. At the time, the Asian firm said it wanted to help the African country design, build, and maintain its digital infrastructures, including data centers.
The national data center is extremely important for the Gabonese government and that is why the minister of digital economy quickly sealed the deal with Shapoorji-Pallonji. The official was well aware of the firm’s experience and achievements in Africa, including Egypt, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Building the infrastructure, according to Doukaga Kassa, aligns with Gabonese authorities' ambition to make Gabon a digital hub in the Central African sub-region.
Samira Njoya
The adoption of technology in all government transactions is emerging as the solution to the bottlenecks caused by corrupt officials who divert government revenues from their intended destination in Africa's public sector.
The Kenyan government launched the e-Citizen Portal, on June 30, providing citizens with access to over 5,000 government services. This digitalization initiative aims to streamline processes, foster transparency, and minimize corruption.
Under President Ruto's leadership, all ministries, departments, and agencies have digitized their services for the portal. The platform also offers easy access to essential healthcare services, revolutionizing healthcare delivery.
President Ruto announced that citizens can access the services through the e-Citizen platform's USSD code *2222# as well as Gava Express, an offline government service in collaboration with banks and fintechs.
“Gava Express will be available in more than 250,000 M-Pesa shops, 28,000 KCB shops, 40,000 Equity shops, and 22,000 Cooperative Bank shops to serve those without smartphones,” he said
The e-Citizen Portal enables citizens to own and manage their health records and engage in interactive sessions. According to the President, the system eradicates inherent inefficiency, corruption, wastage, and discrimination present in human interactions.
With the e-Citizen Portal, Kenya embraces technology for efficient public service delivery, transparency, and citizen empowerment. The government's vision of a digitized and inclusive future becomes a reality.
Hikmatu Bilali
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ICT plays a central role in the digital transformation that is a priority for many governments worldwide. To accelerate the realization of their digital ambitions, countries are exploring avenues for collaboration.
The Angolan government announced on June 27 the start of tests on a fiber optic connection with Zambia. The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication, Mário Oliveira (pictured), told the press about the tests during the visit of a parliamentary delegation from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to the minister, the tests align with Angola's objective of becoming a telecom hub. A few days before the tests began, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to boost their cooperation in the field of fiber optics and space technology.
In this context, the minister stated that the country will provide satellite services to Zambia and South Africa in the coming months, specifically in the areas of agriculture, migration control, infrastructure, and the environment.
To achieve these goals, the minister called on financial partners who could support the strengthening of cooperation. "Without money, nothing can be done, but with the support of all, we can create robust systems for the continent and the world," said Mário Oliveira.
The new fiber optic connection will promote digital inclusion by improving traffic in the region and reducing the costs of accessing high-speed Internet in both countries. These efforts reflect the gradual progress the country is making in achieving its telecommunications objectives and promoting regional connectivity.
Samira Njoya
The evolving digital landscape in Africa is creating opportunities for governments to generate revenues for the development of their countries. These changes highlight the commitment of governments to keeping pace with the rapid growth of the digital economy.
On Monday, June 26, President Ruto signed Kenya’s Finance Bill 2023 into law. This new law brings significant changes to the digital economy, affecting digital content creators, crypto traders, and digital lenders. Effective July 1, 2023, the bill introduces new tax implications and regulations.
Digital content creators will now be taxed on their earnings from digital content, with a 1.5% withholding tax applied to their income. This expansion aims to include various forms of electronically offered content, such as advertisements, sponsorships, subscriptions, and merchandise sales, within the scope of taxation.
Crypto traders face the introduction of a digital asset tax (DAT) on earnings obtained from the transfer or trade of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Platform owners will deduct 3% of the digital asset's value, with non-resident owners required to remit the tax within 24 hours after deduction. The short period for deductions and the taxation of turnover rather than gains may pose challenges for crypto traders.
The bill also broadens the definition of 'fees' to cover charges associated with lending activities by digital lenders. This means that all costs linked to digital lending transactions, including fees charged by digital lending apps, will be subject to excisable duty. Consequently, borrowing from digital lending platforms may become more expensive.
Kenya's Finance Bill 2023 represents the country's adaptation to the evolving digital landscape, aiming to capture revenue and ensure fairness. Industry players must adjust their practices and business models accordingly to comply with the new regulations.
Digital Service Tax (DST) is a tax imposed on income generated from services offered through a digital marketplace (a platform facilitating electronic interactions between buyers and sellers). It was introduced in the Finance Act 2020. The rate of DST is 1.5% of the gross transaction value, which includes payments received for digital services and commissions or fees paid to digital marketplace providers for platform usage.
These changes highlight Kenya's commitment to keeping pace with the rapid growth of the digital economy and aligning its regulatory framework with global trends.
Hikmatu Bilali
African governments are embracing technology to revolutionize healthcare and enhance living standards.
Fujifilm South Africa and Uni Medical Supplies are collaborating to enhance healthcare in Namibia through the implementation of Fujifilm's advanced Synapse Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) platforms. This deployment is the country's largest and has transformative potential for healthcare services.
The project, launched Tuesday, June 27 connects geographically distant hospitals, including Katutura State, Onandjokwe State, Oshakati State, Rundu Intermediate, and Windhoek Central Hospitals, through the innovative Synapse RIS/PACS system.
Taro Kawano, Managing Director of Fujifilm South Africa, expressed optimism about the platform's impact on Namibian citizens' health. “We thank the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services for seeing the value of this platform and the benefits it holds for the country’s healthcare system,” he said.
The Synapse RIS/PACS system efficiently manages radiological information, streamlining appointment scheduling and reporting. Doctors can remotely access and diagnose patients using digital storage of imagery, such as CT scans and X-rays, on the PACS system. Additionally, four out of five hospitals have implemented Fujifilm's cutting-edge REiLI artificial intelligence (AI) platform, which provides advanced detection capabilities for breast and chest abnormalities, assisting radiologists in conducting further examinations.
The immediate availability of data and imagery enables accurate and timely diagnoses, eliminating distance barriers for healthcare services in remote areas. Fujifilm's Synapse RIS and PACS platforms have a successful track record globally.
In that light, Namibia's healthcare system is set to undergo a remarkable transformation with this project. The collaboration between Fujifilm South Africa and Uni Medical Supplies promises improved healthcare services, enhanced patient care, and a more connected healthcare network throughout the country.
Uni Medical Supplies, a Namibian-owned company, delivers affordable, high-quality medical products directly to customers while prioritizing customer satisfaction and ethical business practices. Meanwhile, FUJIFILM South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, serves the Sub-Saharan region with a diverse range of award-winning products, including Photographic Film and Paper, Film and Digital Cameras, Photofinishing Products, Healthcare Systems, Graphic Systems, and Data Management Systems.
Hikmatu Bilali
The rapid advancements in technology, surging data consumption, and the deployment of 4G and 5G networks in Africa intensify the need for telecom infrastructures. In response, the government and international partners are working diligently to address these needs within the digital transformation landscape.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) loaned $60 million to telecom tower manager Eastcastle Infrastructure. This was made public in a press release issued on Monday, June 26. The funds will be used to enhance digital connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the least connected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Expressing his satisfaction with the IFC's investment, Peter Lewis, Co-founder and Director of Eastcastle Infrastructure Ltd., said: "We are delighted that following their equity investment in Eastcastle, the IFC has made $60 million in long-term financing available to our operations in the DRC. Together with the $34 million from Standard Bank of South Africa, this will enable us to surpass 1,000 towers in the DRC."
According to the release, the funding includes $30 million from IFC and an additional $30 million mobilized from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF). This is in line with Eastcastle's strategy to construct a maximum number of shared towers in the DRC. The main goal is to promote the digital economy in the region.
Back in 2021, the IFC had provided financing to support Eastcastle’s growth plans in Sub-Saharan Africa. Now with the new financing, the company will be able to lease its new towers to mobile network operators and other digital service providers in the DRC, thus helping expand their coverage, reduce operating costs, and minimize energy consumption through infrastructure sharing.
It is worth noting that the DRC has 48.4 million mobile phone subscribers. According to the latest data from the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC), the rate of penetration is 50.9%. However, the number of mobile internet users stands at 22.6 million, with a penetration rate of 23.8%. The expansion of Eastcastle's telecom towers network will improve the quality and coverage of telecom services in the country.
Samira Njoya