AfriLabs and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) announced a landmark partnership aimed at bridging Africa’s digital divide and fostering technological innovation across the continent.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) connects ATU’s 52 member states with AfriLabs’ network of over 500 innovation hubs spanning 53 African countries. This collaboration aims to unlock Africa’s estimated US$712 billion internet economy potential by 2050, addressing the continent’s current low internet penetration rate of 38%.
The initiative will leverage expected growth in mobile internet adoption, particularly 5G technology, to develop market-specific solutions promoting digital inclusion. It includes a joint program for intellectual property protection and commercialisation to support African innovators.
The partnership aligns with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy, which targets 80% internet penetration across the continent by 2030.
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