Powering Inclusive Growth Through Local Digital Infrastructure

While millions across Africa remain offline due to circumstance, a deeper challenge exists beyond mere access. Even those connected often rely on digital infrastructure located outside the continent, limiting economic benefits and innovation potential.

The global distribution of data centers illustrates this imbalance: North America hosts 37% of worldwide capacity, followed by Europe and Asia, while Africa accounts for less than 1%. This structural gap means that when African consumers and businesses use foreign platforms, economic value flows outward rather than being retained locally.

The Real Cost of Digital Dependence

This dependence creates multiple constraints:

• Business limitations: Companies struggle to scale beyond local markets without reliable digital foundations
• Trade inefficiencies: Cross-border commerce is hampered by fragile networks and limited access to modern logistics platforms
• Financial exclusion: Unreliable connectivity undermines digital payment systems and financial inclusion initiatives
• Talent drain: Remote work, digital education, and global knowledge economy opportunities remain out of reach for many

Connectivity isn’t just another input—it’s the foundation for economic participation in the 21st century.

Beyond Access: Building Local Digital Ecosystems

While expanding access remains critical, focusing solely on this dimension won’t unlock Africa’s full digital potential. The key is to build comprehensive local infrastructure that enables value capture:

• Subsea cables & fibre networks: Creating high-capacity backbone connectivity
• Data centers: Processing data locally and supporting regional cloud services
• Internet exchange points: Facilitating efficient traffic routing within Africa
• Affordable devices & data pricing: Ensuring accessibility for all segments of the population
• Digital payments systems: Enabling secure local transactions
• Skills development: Building a workforce capable of managing and innovating on digital infrastructure

Africa has already demonstrated its innovation capacity through mobile money, fintech solutions, and e-commerce platforms. By extending this success to the infrastructure layer—building resilient, locally anchored digital ecosystems—the continent can ensure not only connectivity but also economic ownership of its growing digital economy.