The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development estimates that an additional $109 billion in investment is required to achieve universal, affordable, and good quality broadband internet access by 2030. To put this number into context, Vodafone one of the biggest investors in African telecoms infrastructure spends around $1 billion annually on network upgrades in its markets across the continent.
 
Under prevailing conditions, private investments are not set to increase. The latest data from the UN also shows that over $100 billion in the capital has flowed out of emerging markets since the COVID-19 outbreak began. In addition, African governments’ budgets are tightening, and priority will have to be given to citizens’ most imminent needs, while we regrettably see some donors diverting foreign aid towards their own domestic reconstruction.
 
All of these factors pose a real challenge for the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal nine to provide universal and affordable access to the internet across Africa, as well as leveraging digital technologies for all the Global Goals.
Unequal access to connectivity and digital tools has already become one of the new dividing lines within and between societies, a trend that is only likely to accelerate as we head into a global economic recession.

To read more on the article titled “4 Ways Digitisation Can Unlock Africa’s Recovery from COVID-19” click here