Africa Tech Festival, which is comprised of several events including AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and the AI Summit Cape Town, kicked off in Cape Town this morning.
As part of the opening, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi presented a keynote address that sought to inspire delegates at the conference.
In order for Africa to achieve new heights, citizens need to be digitally connected and that connectivity needs to be inclusive. However, while technology is an enabler, it needs to be properly harnessed and, Malatsi says, that begins with policy.
While the private sector has been known to drive inclusivity by providing access, Malatsi is right in saying that it needs to be implemented at a policy and legislative level. The fact is that, unless we push the private sector to assist those living on the lower rungs of society, we will be fighting a losing battle. For instance, despite widespread connectivity in multiple flavours, only 74.7 percent of South Africans are online. Truly, by now, that figure should be closer to 90 percent given the plethora of connectivity solutions available.
What strikes us as odd is that the private and public sector need to be pushed on this at all. Research from Ericsson suggests that a 10 percent increase in mobile broadband adoption can initially increase the gross domestic product of a nation by 0.8 percent. That sounds small but its just the start and when prosperity is encouraged, there are more profits for the private sector to reveal in.
The connected pathway
Even in developed countries such as the US, affordable connectivity is a boon to the economy.
South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa is, however, still learning that lesson. According to data from Cable.co.uk, Sub-Saharan Africa is the fourth-most expensive region in the world for mobile data only outdone by island nations.
In its research, Cable.co.uk ranked South Africa 149th out of 237 countries for affordability when buying 1GB of mobile data. This is mighty concerning as access to the internet is a key driver not only of growth but innovation as well, and Africa needs innovation.
This also presents a problem when one considers that AI is moving full steam ahead in the developed world. The data consumption of AI makes it wholly inaccessible to most in Africa. If this isn’t addressed soon through policy and private sector investment, Africa could soon find itself playing catch up, as it did when fixed line connectivity exploded in the 2010s.
The good news is that Malatsi is keenly aware of the challenges South Africa and Africa face when it comes to connectivity challenges. The minister is heading to the G20 summit to advocate for an agenda that aligns with Africa’s need for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
The journey starts in Cape Town this week
Africa Tech Festival is the perfect site to shout this message given the thousands of delegates that pass through its halls throughout the week. From startups to well established multi-national corporations, the conference is where decision makers head to discover the next big thing.
But more than that, it promotes investment in critical infrastructure and emerging technology such as AI.
While its an attraction for tech professionals from around the world, Africa Tech Festival is also a way to showcase that South Africa is a prime destination for technology firms. As Malatsi puts it, investment here often finds its way into the rest of Africa.
We are keen to see what ministerial decisions are inspired by events at the conference and how the technology and solutions showcased here are implemented throughout the continent.
