Africa Moves Beyond Network Coverage as ATU Pushes for Meaningful Connectivity
Africa is shifting its focus from simply expanding mobile network coverage to ensuring that people can actually use the internet in meaningful ways. The continent’s digital future will depend on affordable devices, reliable broadband, sufficient data, digital skills and safe access to online services.
This issue took centre stage at the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, Nigeria. Ministers, telecommunications regulators, industry leaders and regional delegates gathered to discuss how Africa can close its digital usage gap and provide meaningful digital access to more than 1.4 billion people.
The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, which sets out a framework for improving digital inclusion across the continent.
Africa Looks Beyond the Signal Bar
For more than two decades, the expansion of telecommunications in Africa was largely measured by the number of towers built and the percentage of the population covered by mobile networks.
However, having a mobile signal does not automatically mean people can access online banking, attend virtual classes, run digital businesses or participate in the global digital economy.
Many Africans still struggle to use the internet because of high smartphone prices, expensive data, limited digital skills and a shortage of useful content in local languages.
The concept of meaningful connectivity seeks to address these problems. It focuses on four key requirements: regular internet access, a suitable device such as a smartphone, enough data and a connection that is fast enough to support services such as video learning and digital commerce.
The Abuja conference therefore called for a shift in policy thinking—from measuring how many people have network coverage to ensuring that people can use digital services effectively.
Speaking at the Heads of Regulators Roundtable, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aminu Maida stressed the importance of infrastructure investment and stronger cooperation among African regulators.
“Communications regulation has become increasingly central to economic growth, digital transformation, and national development across the continent,” Maida said.
He also urged regulators to share experiences and solutions more systematically, noting that challenges faced by one country may already have been addressed by another.
Abuja Declaration Sets Out Key Digital Reforms
The framework adopted by ATU Member States focuses on several areas that could influence Africa’s digital development.
Technology-Neutral Regulation
The declaration supports regulatory systems that do not favour one type of technology over another.
This approach would allow fibre networks, mobile infrastructure and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services to complement one another based on factors such as cost, quality and availability.
This could be particularly important for connecting remote and rural communities where traditional infrastructure may be expensive to deploy.
Lower Taxes and More Affordable Devices
The delegates also recognised that the cost of smartphones remains a major barrier to internet adoption.
The declaration calls for a review of sector-specific taxes and levies, lower taxes on entry-level digital devices and measures to encourage local assembly and more efficient supply chains.
Reducing the cost of affordable smartphones could help millions of low-income Africans gain access to digital services.
Better Spectrum Management and Infrastructure Sharing
Spectrum plays a central role in wireless communications. The declaration therefore supports more coordinated spectrum planning, improved management of cross-border interference and stronger frameworks for sharing telecommunications infrastructure.
Infrastructure sharing could also reduce the cost of deploying networks in remote areas and encourage wider coverage.
Digital Skills and Consumer Protection
The delegates also stressed that access to technology is not enough without the skills and confidence to use it safely.
The framework calls for stronger digital literacy programmes, cybersecurity measures, data protection standards and consumer protection policies.
During the conference, NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management Rimini Makama said developments in broadband, satellite services, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure were making communications ecosystems increasingly complex.
She noted that regulators now have access to more data than ever before, but the key challenge is turning that information into useful intelligence that can guide policy decisions.
Africa Seeks a Stronger Voice in Global Digital Policy
The conference also focused on Africa’s role in shaping international technology and telecommunications policies.
Speaking on behalf of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia said African countries must work together to achieve the continent’s digital ambitions.
The message was echoed by Maida, who argued that Africa’s influence in international forums depends not on the size of its delegations but on the strength and unity of its positions.
Ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha, African countries are looking to strengthen their collective approach through three main strategies.
These include reaching agreement on common African positions before international negotiations, creating permanent technical working groups and maintaining continuous participation in ITU discussions on issues such as AI governance, spectrum and cybersecurity.
The goal is to ensure that African countries have a stronger voice when global digital standards are developed.
Nigeria Takes Over ATU Chairmanship
The Abuja meeting also marked a change in ATU leadership. Nigeria formally assumed the chairmanship of the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries.
Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, took over the role and called for unity and continued cooperation among Member States.
Tijani said the decisions reached at the conference would only have a lasting impact if African countries continued to work together with mutual trust and a shared commitment to ensuring that everyone benefits from the digital economy.
Outgoing ATU Secretary-General John Omo said Member States had completed the work of the conference and given the Union a clear mandate for its next phase.
AI and Local Languages Become Part of Africa’s Connectivity Plan
Artificial intelligence also featured prominently in discussions about meaningful connectivity.
Industry groups, including GSMA Africa, highlighted initiatives such as ATLAS Umoja, which aims to develop open-access datasets for African languages that can support national AI programmes.
The initiative addresses a major challenge facing digital adoption. Many Africans still have limited access to online content and digital tools in the languages they speak every day.
Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director for Public Policy in Africa at GSMA, said the initiative reflects a shared goal of creating an investment-friendly digital environment that supports innovation, inclusion and sustainable economic growth.
Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at GSMA, said expanding AI in African languages could help address two major barriers to internet adoption: limited digital literacy and a lack of locally relevant digital content.
If AI tools and digital platforms become more accessible in African languages, more people could find practical reasons to use the internet regularly.
Turning the Abuja Commitments Into Action
The biggest challenge now is implementation.
The agreements reached in Abuja will need to translate into national laws, regulatory reforms and private-sector investment.
African countries will need to move towards technology-neutral licensing systems and support the combination of satellite and terrestrial networks in underserved areas.
Governments will also need to consider reducing import tariffs on affordable smartphones, including devices priced below US$50, to make internet access more affordable for low-income households.
Regional coordination on 4G, 5G and LEO satellite spectrum will also be important to reduce interference and improve cross-border network efficiency.
At the same time, digital literacy needs to become part of community education so that people have the skills required to use connectivity productively and safely.
The message from Abuja is clear. Africa’s digital progress can no longer be measured simply by the number of towers, cables or mobile signals across the continent.
The real measure of success will be whether Africans can access the internet affordably, reliably and safely—and use it to learn, work, trade, access financial services and improve their everyday lives.
