• Plan targets affordable connectivity, especially in rural areas

• Strategy includes infrastructure, skills investment, and policy coordination

African telecommunications ministers adopted a continent-wide roadmap in Algiers on Sunday aimed at accelerating internet access and narrowing the digital divide by 2030.

The ministers gathered for the Global Africa Tech Summit from March 28 to March 30. William Kabogo Gitau, Kenya's minister of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, announced the agreement on Sunday, March 29.

The initiative, titled the "Algiers Declaration on African Telecommunications Sovereignty and Integrated Connectivity 2026-2030," reflects a shared commitment to making connectivity a central driver of development. Its stated goal is to ensure affordable, reliable and high-quality internet access for all populations, with a particular focus on rural and underserved areas.

"The Declaration recognises that the digital divide is not only a development challenge, but a question of sovereignty and that inclusion and sovereignty must advance together. As a continent, we must now focus on implementation, coordination, and measurable progress ensuring that this shared vision translates into tangible outcomes for our citizens," Gitau said. 

African states plan to deploy integrated infrastructure combining terrestrial networks, submarine cables and satellite solutions. The Declaration also calls for strengthening local infrastructure, including data centers and internet exchange points, to improve data flows across the continent and reduce connectivity costs.

Beyond infrastructure, the Declaration calls for investment in digital skills and support for local ecosystems. The goal is to foster sustainable digital inclusion to support Africa's economic and social transformation.

Turning these commitments into action remains the next challenge. The roadmap's success will depend on governments' ability to mobilize the necessary financing, coordinate their policies and measure progress in the years ahead.

Adoni Conrad Quenum