The Central Role of African Stakeholders in Technology
In Africa’s technology landscape, local businesses, regulators, consumers, and technology professionals are the most influential players. Their choices shape how technology is implemented, adapted, and utilized throughout the continent. While external actors contribute significantly to technology provision, it is the African enterprises that are pivotal in executing, maintaining infrastructure, and delivering services.
Success is not determined by the origin of the supplier, but by the fit of the technology product in the African market.
Major African enterprises have a considerable presence in the technology stack, particularly in application and service delivery. MTN, the continent’s largest telecommunications provider headquartered in South Africa, along with significant state-owned companies like Maroc Telecom and Ethio Telecom, exemplifies this trend. Notably, the Djibouti Africa Regional Express (DARE) cable, the fourth-largest submarine cable by bandwidth in Africa, is owned by a consortium of local telecommunications firms. In sectors like e-commerce, Nigerian platform Jumia ranks as a top app, while companies like OPay, PalmPay, and M-Pesa dominate the financial application space.
Moreover, foreign companies involved in Africa’s technology ecosystem often depend on local franchises and labor. The interactions between external firms supplying hardware, software, and management expertise with African governments and consumers are generally beneficial, fostering a symbiotic relationship.
Take, for instance, Vodafone’s significant 40% ownership stake in Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider. With the Kenyan government holding a 35% stake, this partnership creates a robust ecosystem that is pivotal for the local economy. Safaricom boasts over 45 million subscribers and supports approximately 1.2 million jobs, representing about 5% of Kenya’s workforce, highlighting its extensive socio-economic impact.
A girl browses products at a mobile store in Ethiopia. (Photo: AFP)
African governments play a vital role in crafting regulations that not only encourage investment but also establish necessary frameworks for technology deployment. Interestingly, domestic governments invest more in ICT infrastructure than external entities, with private digitalization investments far surpassing government expenditure at a ratio of four to one. The regulatory landscape varies across the continent; while some countries achieve high rankings in the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index, others are still developing their frameworks. Ghana, for instance, has made significant strides in its cybersecurity policies, serving as a potential model for other nations.
The ultimate driver of technology success in Africa is the end user. The market outcome hinges less on where the technology originates and more on its adaptability within the African context. For example, Transsion’s founder, George Zhu, spent a decade in Africa prior to launching the company, resulting in the Tecno mobile phone—a device specifically tailored to meet the needs of African consumers with features such as extended battery life and local language support.
Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges
Africa’s reliance on external technology providers is not a standalone issue; this dynamic exists globally due to the interconnected nature of technology supply chains and the sophisticated production processes for critical technologies like semiconductors and generative AI models.
Diversity and competition within the technology sector can help reduce vulnerability.
However, a deeper examination of Africa’s technology landscape reveals that no single entity wields absolute control, providing numerous opportunities for local entities to assert their influence. By fostering diversity and competition in this sector, African governments can minimize their dependency on external players.
As Africa’s technology industry continues to bloom, addressing cybersecurity must remain a priority to protect both governments and citizens from rising cyber threats. Security-conscious consumers and essential industries should prioritize engaging with firms that emphasize robust cybersecurity measures. For instance, while Meta’s WhatsApp is widely used, particularly by government officials, alternatives like Signal offer enhanced encryption and privacy protections, making them more suitable for users concerned about security.
Additionally, African nations need to cultivate diversity and competition in the procurement of strategic technologies that are either not feasible to produce locally or protect sufficiently. The historical disruption caused by the cutting of undersea cables highlights the need for a more resilient internet infrastructure that can withstand such incidents.
Furthermore, African governments play a crucial role in enhancing cyber capabilities through the development of legal and institutional frameworks designed to mitigate risks, particularly in critical sectors such as energy and finance. Nevertheless, many countries lack comprehensive policies, and those in place may not specify which assets require protection, such as key infrastructure at power plants and ports.
Lastly, regional and international collaboration is essential for protecting critical information infrastructure from cyberattacks, representing a fundamental aspect of establishing norms for state conduct in cyberspace. By engaging more with global initiatives aimed at boosting cyber resilience, African governments can significantly improve their capacity to identify, counter, and respond to cyber threats. Participation in frameworks led by the African Union and regional economic bodies can further enhance the protection of shared infrastructure across vital sectors.
