The African Union Commission has held discussions with the GSMA on advancing digital inclusion across Africa, focusing on expanding access to digital devices, encouraging meaningful use of digital services and addressing language barriers that prevent some populations from benefiting fully from digital opportunities.
The discussions took place during a bilateral meeting between H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, and Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, on the sidelines of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26) in Doha, Qatar, with both parties exploring areas of cooperation to support Africa’s digital inclusion agenda. The meeting also focused on implementing the outcomes of the sixth session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT (STC-CICT-6) and preparations for the African Union’s 2027 Theme of the Year, titled ‘AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration’.
The discussions highlighted the need to address linguistic barriers, which can limit access to online information, digital platforms and services for people who are not comfortable using dominant international languages, with affordability, digital skills and the availability of services in local languages remaining challenges for many communities. Expanding device access and promoting meaningful use of technology are important parts of Africa’s broader digital transformation efforts, with mobile connectivity continuing to create opportunities across the continent but access gaps persisting for underserved populations.
The African Union Commission’s Infrastructure and Energy Department said strategic partnerships and collective efforts remain important to advancing the continent’s digital transformation and building an inclusive, connected Africa, with the engagement providing an opportunity for the AU and the GSMA to explore how governments and the telecommunications industry can work together to make digital opportunities more accessible to underserved populations. Although the meeting did not announce a specific funding package or formal agreement, the discussions signal a commitment to deepening collaboration on digital inclusion priorities identified during the meeting.
The bilateral meeting builds on the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, adopted at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-2026) in July 2026, which commits African governments to advancing policies that promote meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient digital infrastructure and locally relevant digital services. The GSMA has worked alongside governments, regulators and industry leaders to support these shared ambitions through practical policy engagement, evidence-based research and new collaborative initiatives designed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation, including the launch of ATLAS Umoja AI.
The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026, which opened in Doha on November 9, brings together governments and stakeholders to address key global technology challenges, elect the organisation’s leadership and determine the strategic direction of the United Nations agency for digital technologies in the age of artificial intelligence, with the conference providing a platform for ITU Member States to deliberate on the future of global telecommunications and digital development. The AU’s engagement with the GSMA at the conference reflects a broader effort to ensure that Africa’s priorities are reflected in global digital governance and that the benefits of digital transformation are accessible to all.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
Leave a comment