Information minister Emma Theofelus says most African countries are facing considerable challenges in satisfying the increased demand for information and communication technology (ICT) services.
The fundamental challenge is a lack of suitable infrastructure, which is required to sustain this growing business.
Addressing the opening of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) conference here Monday, she said this insufficiency has a wide-ranging impact on people’s lives, including education, healthcare and corporate operations.
She said another major issue that the continent must solve is the development of a competitive and inclusive ICT economy that serves all stakeholders.
By fostering a legislative environment that supports investment and innovation, African countries can generate possibilities for small and medium-sized businesses, reduce consumer costs and stimulate economic growth.
“At the same time, we must ensure that the advantages of digital transformation are shared by all segments of society, especially women, youth and persons with disabilities,” she remarked.
The minister further said that in today’s digital age, access to affordable and dependable telecommunications infrastructure is no longer a luxury, but rather a requirement for African countries’ progress and the well-being of their citizens.
She added that increasing connection is critical for driving economic growth, promoting social inclusion and supporting innovation, making it critical in creating a connected Africa for long-term development.
The purpose of these meetings is to gather stakeholders from various African countries to discuss and prepare for the upcoming conferences.
These include the first African Preparatory Meeting (APM26-1) for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in 2026 (PP-26) and the second African Preparatory Meeting for the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2025 (WTDC-25).
Speaking at the same event, Elvis Nashilongo, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s vice chairperson emphasised the importance of these sessions in advancing the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for socio-economic development.
The conference ends on Friday. -Nampa