As Africa pushes to bridge its digital divide, policymakers and technology leaders said deepening technology cooperation with China is accelerating the continent\u2019s digital transformation \u2014 from affordable smartphones to expanding broadband networks and skills development.<\/p>\n
With the continent\u2019s digital economy projected to reach $712 billion by 2050, according to the World Bank, policymakers and experts said partnerships with China in technology and innovation are proving vital to closing the connectivity gap and building the infrastructure for a smarter, more inclusive future.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfrica needs substantial investment to drive infrastructure and close the usage gap. When we talk about device affordability, we need to bring prices down to the $20 to $30 range \u2014 that would be the tipping point,\u201d said Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, executive secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many companies in China that can help us achieve this. I see a great opportunity for China to partner with Africa in this regard,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Aboki noted that device affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion. While mobile penetration continues to rise, millions of Africans remain offline due to the high cost of devices and limited rural connectivity.<\/p>\n
He said collaborations with Chinese manufacturers and telecom giants are helping bridge this divide by offering affordable smartphones and extending broadband networks into remote areas.<\/p>\n
In Uganda, partnerships with Chinese firms are helping expand access to digital services and strengthen the country\u2019s information and communications technology backbone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chinese have made remarkable progress in technology, and as Africa, we don\u2019t need to reinvent the wheel \u2014 we are adopting technology that already exists,\u201d said Godfrey Baluku Kabyanga, minister of State for ICT and National Guidance of Uganda.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (China) have not been mean in sharing that technology. For us in Uganda, China is a friendly country, and our partnership dates back to precolonial times. We are collaborating closely, and we haven\u2019t encountered any issues with their technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kabyanga cited Huawei\u2019s role in expanding Uganda\u2019s national backbone fiber network as an example of technology transfer and practical cooperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they come in, they truly open up and do a lot, not only in Uganda but across the continent \u2014 and with very few conditions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Analysts said this pragmatic model of cooperation has made China an attractive partner for African nations pursuing rapid digital transformation without burdensome political or financial preconditions.<\/p>\n
Through Chinese companies such as Huawei, ZTE and Transsion, Chinese investment has contributed to the development of data centers, 5G infrastructure, e-government systems, and smartphone manufacturing on the continent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see all innovators around the world as our partners. Anyone who wants to uplift our people from poverty is welcome,\u201d said Bashir Gwandu, chairman of the Commonwealth ITU Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s China, Europe, or the United States \u2014 let them come. As long as our people can benefit from the services, we will appreciate that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gwandu emphasized that telecommunications remain a key driver of economic growth across Africa, highlighting the continent\u2019s openness to collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny company that can invest in our continent to enhance the economic well-being of our people and bridge the technology gap is welcome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As the continent positions itself for a more connected future, African leaders said they expect such partnerships to extend beyond infrastructure to encompass skills development, innovation hubs and green digital solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfrica\u2019s digital transformation is not just about connectivity; it\u2019s about creating opportunities for every citizen to participate in the global digital economy \u2014 and China\u2019s cooperation is helping make that possible,\u201d Aboki said.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Africa pushes to bridge its digital divide, policymakers and technology leaders said deepening technology cooperation with China is accelerating the continent\u2019s digital transformation \u2014 from affordable smartphones to expanding broadband networks and skills development. With the continent\u2019s digital economy projected to reach $712 billion by 2050, according to the World Bank, policymakers and experts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123881\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}