Africa’s Digital Transformation Is Underway, But Not Yet Mainstream
As leaders from across Africa gathered at the Connected Africa Summit 2025 under the theme “The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality,” one message was unmistakable: while remarkable progress is underway, digital transformation remains far from universal.
Over the past decade, connectivity has improved dramatically. The expansion of 4G and the rollout of 5G have brought high-speed Internet to millions, while fiber networks are growing rapidly. Kenya’s Digital Superhighway is a flagship example—thousands of kilometers have already been laid, with funding secured for tens of thousands more. Yet, despite this momentum, digital transformation requires reliable, high-speed mobile and fiber broadband accessible to all—not just some.
Throughout the Summit, speakers shared inspiring stories of how digital infrastructure is improving lives, enhancing public services, and enabling inclusive economic growth. But it was clear these successes are not yet widespread.
A critical insight from the Summit was that digital transformation is sector-specific, with each sector facing unique challenges. Beyond Internet speed, infrastructure must deliver quality, reliability, and—especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—effective data handling: collecting, storing, analyzing, and using data securely and efficiently.
The financial services industry leads the way. FinTech companies have developed robust platforms capable of processing transactions rapidly, sharing data securely, and generating real-time insights that benefit the entire economy. This requires balancing local data residency with the flexibility of cloud and hybrid environments. Huawei is proud to support many of Kenya’s leading FinTechs and banks with cloud-based solutions designed for this purpose.
Related: Beyond Digital: Resilience Empowers AI-Infused Finance
Other sectors are steadily catching up. At the Summit exhibition, we showcased targeted ICT solutions for small and medium enterprises—affordable, easy-to-deploy technologies—as well as high-speed fiber networks supporting hospitality businesses, enabling them to deliver seamless customer experiences and efficient operations.
Healthcare exemplifies both the challenges and opportunities ahead. Kenya’s newly launched Digital Health Agency has set out an ambitious nationwide plan. During the Summit’s healthcare session, I shared how Huawei is collaborating with health institutions across Kenya to upgrade digital infrastructure—introducing secure cloud platforms, reliable power backup, and advanced data analytics tools that enable faster, better clinical decision-making.
Huawei's Adam Lane addresses Connected Africa Summit 2025
Cloud technology has emerged as a true game-changer, offering scalability, agility, and cost efficiency. Startups, government agencies, and businesses alike are leveraging cloud to access advanced capabilities—like AI and big data—without heavy upfront investment. At the Summit’s cloud session, it became clear: cloud is no longer optional; it is essential for Africa’s economic development. Kenya’s recently developed Cloud Policy is an important step toward accelerating its adoption.
Cloud is no longer optional; it is essential for Africa's economic development.Policy and collaboration are now central to digital progress. The Summit revealed a growing consensus: Africa’s digital transformation must be co-created. Real innovation is happening through partnerships—governments working alongside cloud providers, and local innovators developing AI tools tailored for underserved communities.
In Kakamega County, Huawei has partnered with local government and education stakeholders to activate dark fiber, delivering reliable internet to hospitals and technical colleges. These are not pilot projects—they are replicable blueprints for what is possible when infrastructure, intent, and investment align. The government’s ambitious plan to build 1,450 Digital Hubs is well underway, with over 300 operational and more than 200 under construction.
Kenya—and Africa—has made remarkable strides, but speed and inclusivity remain vital. The AI era is here, and only with strong connectivity and cloud infrastructure can its full promise be realized—through better public services, faster development, and meaningful inclusion.
At Huawei, we are proud to contribute to this journey. More importantly, we are committed to partnering, listening, and acting alongside our hundreds of local partners to ensure that everyone shares in the benefits of Africa’s digital future.
This article was first published by Capital FM.
Further Reading
- Skills on Wheels: Driving Digital Inclusion Across the Globe
- DigiSchool Kenya: Transforming Education with Connectivity
- Huawei Cloud
- Huawei Intelligent Finance
- Huawei Intelligent Healthcare
Disclaimer: Any views and/or opinions expressed in this post by individual authors or contributors are their personal views and/or opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of Huawei Technologies.
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