Africa: Airtel Africa CEO Urges Telecom Industry to Embrace Technology for Digital Inclusion

Segun Ogunsanya, the Group CEO of Airtel Africa, has issued a challenge to the telecommunications industry in Africa, calling on them to harness emerging technologies to connect, engage, and facilitate transactions for all individuals on the continent.

During the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Dr. Ogunsanya emphasized the potential of these technologies to bridge the digital divide, drive financial inclusion, and increase the availability of affordable smart devices.

He highlighted Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as a powerful tool for predicting customer behavior and gaining deeper insights into customer needs and preferences. Additionally, intelligent connectivity, which combines 5G, the Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence, offers opportunities to accelerate technological development and introduce disruptive digital services.

Dr. Ogunsanya stated, “The telecom industry is uniquely positioned to simplify entry into the digital world by implementing these technologies. This can be achieved through substantial investments in creating digital infrastructure across the continent and fostering a thriving mobile money ecosystem. Collaborations with equipment manufacturers and other key stakeholders can help ensure that every African has access to smart devices.”

Notably, Africa has a large young population, yet smartphone penetration stands at only 59%, with just two out of ten Africans having a mobile money wallet. Emerging technologies can be instrumental in several sectors:

• AI-aided e-learning: Customizing curricula based on students’ learning abilities.
• e-health: Enhancing patient monitoring and healthcare facility efficiency.
• Agritech: Utilizing AI and connectivity for crop disease detection.
• Financial inclusion: Utilizing digital infrastructure, unified payment systems, and intelligent mobile wallets.

Furthermore, these technologies can be applied in the creation of smart cities, aiding in the development of safe communities and efficient public utilities. They can also assist in development planning by predicting population movements and aiding governments in urban and rural development design. Smart metering for accurate usage measurements, enhanced sustainability, and improved customer experiences is another avenue, along with biometric technology for authentication, privacy, access control, and non-repudiation.

Airtel Africa is actively deploying a 5G network across its 14 markets in Africa to facilitate a digitally connected world and unlock a wide range of opportunities. The company has also recently announced a partnership with the Government of Rwanda to provide over 1 million people in the country with affordable, high-speed, cutting-edge LTE smartphones.