Internet : The Smart Africa Alliance will launch a project in 2021 to halve the price of Internet access in Africa.

7 to 10 member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance will test its low-cost Internet project next year. The organization has decided to acquire wholesale data capacity that will be resold at low retail prices. The project was adopted on December 7 by the board of directors.

The cost of Internet access remains very high in several African countries. Several reports from international organizations such as the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) reveal this. In order to reduce it to allow more people to have access to connectivity that is essential for socio-economic development, the Smart Africa Alliance has decided to launch its project of bulk purchase of data capacity as early as 2021.

A special entity should be created for this purpose. It will be responsible for this issue in collaboration with a consortium of companies including Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and major telecommunications operators. Capacity purchased wholesale on the telecom infrastructure of connectivity providers will be resold at affordable retail prices in the member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.

This decision was taken on Monday, December 7, 2020, during the 9th Board of Directors meeting of the Smart Africa Alliance. In virtual mode, the meeting was chaired by the Rwandan Head of State Paul Kagame (photo) who called on his counterparts to make more efforts for the digital transformation of the continent.

In an interview with the Rwandan newspaper New Times, Didier Nkurikiyimfura, director of technology and innovation at the Smart Africa secretariat, said that "the cost of Internet in Africa is very expensive, so we are really aiming to reduce it by 50%. This will help people and countries get better connectivity, launch online products and services and be able to move towards a knowledge-based economy.

He said that under the project, which starts in 2021, "we will start with seven to ten countries as the first phase. We will work with a consortium of companies such as Internet operators and telecommunications operators. By the end of the year, the development of the framework for the implementation of this project will be completed. Mauritania will benefit from this. The country has joined the Smart Africa Alliance as the 31st member.

Source : agenceecofin