GSMA and PDAA launch roadmap to bridge Africa's digital divide

The GSMA and the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) have released a new roadmap titled ‘Advancing Digital Connectivity in Africa: Charting Africa’s Path to One Billion Connected People by 2030’. The initiative aims to address a significant digital usage gap where approximately 906 million people in Africa live within mobile broadband coverage but remain offline.

Data indicates that while infrastructure deployment is advancing, roughly 60 percent of Africa’s population falls into the usage gap. In contrast, only about 122 million people live entirely beyond the reach of mobile broadband networks. The analysis highlights disparities across several markets, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Ethiopia. For example, Nigeria reported approximately 140 million people within the usage gap in 2025.

In Nigeria, specific efforts are underway to address connectivity in rural and underserved urban areas. A multistakeholder group has developed the National Strategy for Community-Centred Connectivity Initiatives in Nigeria. This strategy, which provides a roadmap through March 2027, focuses on regulatory issues, digital skills, gender perspectives, and the deployment of pilot community networks to foster digital inclusion.