The recently concluded Africa Tech Festival brought together a diverse group of vendors, industry leaders, policymakers and telecommunications professionals to delve into and celebrate the dynamic advancements in connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure throughout the continent. 

A central theme of the festival was the significant effort to expand broadband access - a critical element in propelling technological inclusion and fostering economic development across Africa. Through insightful discussions, it became evident that ongoing initiatives to improve accessibility have resulted in increased penetration of broadband, extending opportunities to system integrators, network operators and technical network professionals to lay out the infrastructure for this.

See a sneak peek of how the event went:

Broadband access across the continent currently stands at 85%, with 60% of all Africans connected to mobile phones. However, the usage of all this access is too low to count as a true triumph in connecting the unconnected. More work needs to be done to close the last mile - which is building capacity among end users to utilize these technologies.

To narrow the digital divide, significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure should go beyond urban centers, ensuring that even remote and underserved areas can participate in and benefit from the ongoing digital revolution.

Sustained investments in telecommunications infrastructure will drive long-term, sustainable growth. With strategic collaborations between governments, private entities, and international organizations to accelerate the expansion of broadband access and connectivity in general, Africa will fully realise the potential of its digital future.

As Optace Networks, we are proud to share in this commitment to inclusivity and technological empowerment that will position Africa on a trajectory towards a more connected and digitally inclusive future where the digital divide is bridged with the right infrastructure and scalable, future-proof solutions. Our presence in 15 countries within East and Central Africa affirms this even more assertively, as we provide network operators, system integrators, academic institutions, businesses, internet service providers (fiber and wireless), individuals and governments with the right solutions to build the digital future of Africa.