The heart of East Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently played host to an assembly of policymakers and tech magnates from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Countries like Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda found themselves at the epicenter of an evolving dialogue on Internet development. Can you imagine the excitement of convergence around such pivotal topics of digital transformation, infrastructure, and regional integration?
The event attracted a varied audience of 250 delegates, eager minds intent on absorbing wisdom from an impressive roster of 50 speakers. Among them, figures as prominent as Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology and the Director General of the Ethiopian Communications Authority took the stage. Their discourses laid bare the urgency of advancing Internet governance, expanding infrastructure, and refining policies while fostering digital literacy across the region.
Consider this: the Internet Development Conference 2025 wasn’t just about exchanging pleasantries and nodding to agreements. It embodied a clarion call for regional cooperation, underscoring a narrative that weaves through every byte of it—a more inclusive Internet, more robust and diversified, for all of Africa.
“In the intersecting tides of technology and governance, collaboration must evolve from mere rhetoric to a tangible blueprint for action,” an attendee recalled with a resolute nod, capturing the pervasive spirit of the conference.
No less than ten pivotal policy recommendations emerged, each a stepping stone towards a connected future:
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Strengthened Regional Collaboration and Integration: Isn’t it high time we harmonized policies to foster unrestricted connectivity and economic prosperity? Establishing regional regulatory bodies could pave that path.
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Prioritizing Infrastructure Development and Sharing: Ever thought about the potential unleashed by carrier-neutral data centers or last-mile connectivity? Investment here promises exponential dividends.
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Proliferation of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Reducing latency and costs by improving local traffic routing echoes not just efficiency, but empowerment.
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Addressing Access Gaps via Targeted Policies: Connectivity isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Universal access must transform from policy papers to palpable reality.
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Expanding Digital Skills and Literacy: What good is cutting-edge technology if it’s confined to the hands of a few? Comprehensive training programs could democratize Internet usage.
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Harmonizing Digital Strategies: From conflicting regulations to streamlined processes, even bureaucracy can be agile when it embraces technological imperatives.
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Cultivating Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A nourishing ground for local content and tech startups is a cauldron where innovation simmers to life.
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Advancing Open Data Standards: Transparency through open data standards kindles informed investments in telecommunications infrastructure.
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Fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Synergistic alliances between the state and private enterprises could very well redefine Internet access parameters.
- Monitoring and Measuring Connectivity: Tools to track outages or connectivity performance aren’t just gadgets—they’re guides directing us towards universal Internet access.
More than mere edicts, these calls to action resonate with the understanding that a dependable and accessible Internet is Africa’s ticket to a future replete with socioeconomic growth. Does this vision sound too utopian? Perhaps not when backed by data.
The Internet Society’s Pulse tool now reflects a resilience score of 34 for Africa—a modest but significant rise since last year. This stride predicates better access to e-learning, telemedicine, and entrepreneurial opportunities for countless individuals. Western and Middle Africa hold the distinction in this improvement, each recording a 2-point rise. Even in Eastern Africa, progress echoes—as Ethiopia stands testament.
Dawit Bekele, the Internet Society’s Regional Vice President for Africa, stressed, “While we see promising growth in Internet resilience across Africa, challenges remain in connecting the unconnected and ensuring equitable access for all.” It’s partnerships and conferences like this that ignite the sparks of infrastructural commitment and regulatory ingenuity.
Anchored by an unwavering ambition, the conference encircles the ethos of collaborative advancement and readiness to face the challenges of an ever-networked world.
For further details, please reach out to Allesandra deSantillana at desantillana@isocfoundation.org.
About the Internet Society: Established in 1992 by Internet trailblazers, the Internet Society is a worldwide nonprofit dedicated to making the Internet accessible to everyone. Through a robust community network composed of members, interests groups, and over 130 chapters, it advocates for open, globally interlinked, and secure Internet policies and technologies.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
