Collaboration Required to Achieve Reliable internet access across the continent – Hyperscalers

 
At the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa conference, a panel titled “Satellite, Subsea, and Terrestrial – Africa’s Path to Seamless and Integrated Connectivity” brought industry leaders together to discuss the investments essential for Africa’s digital future.

These include deploying more submarine cables, expanding terrestrial networks, and leveraging satellite technology to bridge connectivity gaps, especially in underserved rural areas.

The panelists, comprising Josephine Sarouk, Managing Director of Bayobab; Reuben Oshomah, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at Avanti Communications; Wole Abu, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria; and Lanre Kolade, Chairman of ConnectedCompute, stressed that a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors will be necessary to achieve reliable, widespread internet access across the continent.

Moderated by Jubril Saba, Vice President of Operations at IHS Towers, the session emphasized the potential of digital infrastructure to drive economic growth throughout Africa.

Managing Director of Bayobab Josephine Sarouk, spoke to the necessity of building resilience and diversifying Africa’s connectivity infrastructure, advocating for investments in redundant routes like submarine cables, regional terrestrial networks, and local internet exchange points (IXPs).

She noted that this strategy would reduce outages, increase reliability, and provide alternatives in cases of disruptions.

“Africa’s digital future hinges on a resilient internet infrastructure that can withstand disruptions and ensure fast, reliable connectivity,” Sarouk said, adding that reducing dependence on single routes and establishing alternative data pathways would not only boost connectivity but also foster economic growth.

Regional Director for West and Central Africa at Avanti Communications Reuben Oshomah, addressed Africa’s connectivity challenges, pointing out that 60% of Africa is still underserved due to limited infrastructure and high costs.

He explained that satellite technology offers a faster, cost-effective solution for bridging this divide, especially when combined with fiber through a hybrid approach. Public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Oshomah suggested, would be crucial in enhancing both access and affordability.

“With increased satellite coverage, Africa can promote inclusion and drive economic growth by connecting remote regions,” he stated.

In his comments, Wole Abu, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, focused on the critical need for collaboration across sectors to achieve seamless connectivity.

According to Abu, current efforts are often fragmented among sectors such as education, finance, and technology, leading to inefficiencies.

He advocated for breaking down these silos to foster shared resources and knowledge that would accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.

“Collaboration across sectors is vital to achieving seamless, inclusive connectivity that can truly transform Africa’s digital economy,” he said.

Abu emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to connectivity, stating,“You need a combination of satellite, subsea, and fiber cables, and CPEs to collaborate. They talk to each other—do we talk to each other?” “We need to have a clear agenda as leadership to improve collaboration and take an ecosystem approach to addressing these issues,” he concluded.

Chairman of ConnectedCompute, Lanre Kolade, who was previously the Group Chief Executive Officer of CSquared, emphasized the role of government in facilitating digital connectivity through supportive policies and stable environments for private investment.

Acknowledging that political risks can pose challenges, he highlighted the potential for PPPs to help mitigate these issues by enabling shared investment in high-cost projects, particularly in rural areas.

“Reducing connectivity costs through shared investments offers significant economic advantages,” Kolade remarked. “To realize this vision, we must collectively tackle instability and embrace policies that enable sustained infrastructure growth.”

The panelists collectively underscored that Africa’s journey toward robust digital connectivity can be accelerated by addressing infrastructure gaps and fostering public-private partnerships.

Hyperscalers Convergence Africa continues to serve as a vital platform for discussing the innovations and collaborations that will drive Africa’s digital economy forward.