This article evaluates the AI readiness and opportunities in 10 African countries, highlighting strengths, challenges, and strategies to harness AI for economic growth, social development, and regional leadership. While AI adoption is varied, investments in infrastructure, governance, and human capital are critical to unlocking the continent’s AI potential.
Orange has partnered with Eutelsat’s Konnect satellite to expand internet access in regions like Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The satellite offers up to 100 Mb/s speeds, aiming to improve connectivity in remote areas and supporting mobile backhaul and maritime applications across Africa.
The African smartphone market grew by 9% in 2024, reaching 74.7 million units, driven by easing inflation. Transsion led with a 51% market share, while Samsung and Xiaomi followed. Despite challenges like high inflation and currency depreciation, Africa remains a promising growth market, with expectations of slower growth in 2025.
Morocco emphasized the importance of robust cybersecurity at the African Cybersecurity Forum, advocating for collaborative efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and protect against transnational cyber threats. Brigadier General Rabii outlined the country’s cybersecurity priorities and the need for international cooperation to safeguard Africa’s digital transformation.
Hayo has partnered exclusively with Talk360 to provide affordable international calling services across Africa. This collaboration offers high-quality voice communication, leveraging Hayo’s extensive network and Talk360’s app, enabling customers to make cost-effective calls to over 190 countries. The partnership aims to improve global connectivity for African communities.
Africa’s gaming sector reached $1.8 billion in 2024, with mobile gaming accounting for 90% of the market. The region experienced significant growth, driven by affordable smartphones and improved internet access. Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa led the market, with competitive gaming and eSports continuing to expand.
Arab Financial Services (AFS) has partnered with Nsano to enhance digital payments across Sub-Saharan Africa. By integrating AFS’s card processing services into Nsano’s mobile money infrastructure, the partnership will enable Visa and Mastercard processing, boosting financial inclusion and providing more payment options for financial institutions and merchants in the region.
The African Cybersecurity Forum in Rabat focuses on strengthening digital security across the continent, with discussions on AI-driven threat detection and cybersecurity transformation. Moroccan ministers emphasized the need for greater pan-African collaboration in securing digital infrastructures, with Morocco at the forefront of cybersecurity development in Africa.
UM6P and STATION F have launched the NextAfrica program to bridge Europe and Africa, supporting startups in Greentech, Agritech, and Healthtech sectors. The partnership provides mentorship, funding, and scientific expertise to help startups enter the African market, with access to resources from both STATION F and UM6P’s campus in Morocco.
The European Commission has launched the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme with a €100 million investment. This initiative focuses on advancing space-based services for climate monitoring, strengthening institutional collaboration, and boosting the private sector to drive sustainable growth and innovation in Africa through space technology and data-driven solutions.
