The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has urged African governments to strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks to create an enabling environment for private sector investment in the digital economy, warning that without the right policies, the continent will struggle to attract the capital needed to close its digital divide.Speaking at recent regional forums and ministerial meetings, ITU officials said appropriate policies, predictable regulations and initiatives such as regulatory sandboxes could encourage investment and support the growth of emerging digital technologies. The agency stressed that harmonised, investment-friendly regulatory frameworks are essential to attract private sector investment, scale infrastructure deployment and support cross-border and continental connectivity.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin has identified three pillars for achieving universal meaningful connectivity in Africa: enabling policies, affordability and digital capacity. She said Africa already knows what is required to bridge its digital divide, but must now translate this knowledge into action through coherent policy and regulatory reform.
Bogdan-Martin urged governments to adopt technology-neutral policies that allow fibre, mobile, satellite and community networks to complement one another. “Technology neutrality makes complementarity possible, unlocking healthy market competition that lowers prices and expands coverage,” she said, adding that such policies are critical to making internet access and devices more affordable for ordinary Africans.
The ITU’s Regional Development Forum for Africa (RDF-AFR 2026) adopted a roadmap for 2026–2029 aimed at supporting the implementation of the Baku Action Plan at regional level. The roadmap focuses on five regional initiatives: resilient digital infrastructure and universal connectivity; inclusive and trustworthy artificial intelligence; trust, safety and security in ICTs; digital applications and innovation ecosystems; and sustainable funding mechanisms for Africa’s digital transformation.
Discussions at the forum underscored that infrastructure investment should be supported through innovative financing approaches, including blended finance, public-private partnerships, regional infrastructure models and infrastructure-sharing mechanisms. Participants agreed that persistent digital divides across the continent call for coordinated policy action, increased investment and strengthened capacity development.
Lessons from Europe and the Abuja DeclarationITU officials said Africa could draw lessons from Europe’s experience in harmonising digital policies and regulations to create a more investment-friendly digital environment. The agency highlighted the importance of regulatory modernisation, data-driven policy-making and forward-looking spectrum management to support next-generation mobile networks and emerging technologies.
These messages align with the 2026 Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, adopted by African ICT ministers in July. The declaration commits member states to accelerate internet access in rural, remote and underserved communities by promoting policies and investments that improve digital infrastructure, stimulate demand for internet services and ensure equitable access to digital opportunities.
For African policymakers, the ITU’s guidance underscores the need to move beyond broad digital strategies to concrete policy and regulatory reforms that can unlock investment. By creating predictable, technology-neutral and investment-friendly environments, countries can attract the capital needed to expand broadband, lower costs and build the foundations for a thriving digital economy.
As Africa seeks to bridge its digital divide and harness the potential of technologies such as AI, the message from the ITU is clear: without enabling policies, investment will remain constrained, and the continent risks being left behind in the global digital race.
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.
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