Countries

In 2025, South Africa’s G20 Presidency put AI and tech issues high on the G20 agenda, focusing on linking technological changes with Africa’s development. It will reinforce South Africa’s role as one of the continental tech engines.

South Africa is a leader in the fintech sector in Africa. Innovations in mobile money, online banking, and financial services are prominent. According to a report published by Research and Markets, the country has been internationally recognised for having one of the most sophisticated financial sectors, generating approximately 40% of all fintech revenue in Africa. 

South Africa has invested significantly in improving its digital infrastructure. The rollout of fibre-optic cables and the expansion of 4G LTE networks across urban and semi-urban areas have been pivotal. The government and private companies are pushing towards enhancing 5G technology, which promises to revolutionise various sectors through improved connectivity and speed.

South Africa has been taking steps towards developing a clear national AI strategy. The country has established the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa and is working on introducing a tailored national strategy and appropriate regulations to ensure the ethical use of AI.

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Somalia’s digital infrastructure is regulated by the National Communications Authority (NCA), which oversees telecommunications, spectrum management, satellite licensing, and emerging technologies. Since the implementation of the 2017 Communications Act, the country has made substantial progress in building institutional capacity, including the establishment of a national 5G framework, submarine cable regulations, and a national spectrum monitoring centre. The private sector, particularly operators like Hormuud Telecom, plays a leading role in providing nationwide mobile network coverage and expanding broadband access through fibre and wireless technologies.

The digital economy is primarily supported by a well-developed mobile money ecosystem. Services such as EVC-Plus, Sahal, and WAAFI are widely used for domestic transactions, including retail, salary payments, and government services. According to the World Bank and the Central Bank of Somalia, mobile money accounts for over 70 percent of all financial transactions in the country. In parallel, formal banking systems have adopted real-time gross settlement and instant payment services, supported by public–private collaboration and regulatory modernisation.

The ICT and digital economy sector contributes an estimated 11 percent to Somalia’s gross domestic product. This includes telecommunications, digital financial services, and emerging e-commerce platforms. The government has initiated reforms to strengthen digital governance, such as the Data Protection Act (2023), the national instant payments system (SPS), and the ongoing development of a national cybersecurity strategy. While digital uptake is high in urban centres, challenges remain in rural access, infrastructure reliability, and institutional capacity. Nonetheless, Somalia continues to make measurable progress in integrating digital technologies into its broader development agenda.

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Benin is a regional leader in public sector digital maturity. According to the 2023 World Bank GovTech Maturity Index, the country scored an impressive 68/100 on the Public Service Delivery Index (PSDI)—the highest among WAEMU member states—reflecting well-developed one‑stop portals, e‑payment systems, and tax filings via its service‑public.bj platform. Benin migrated from Group C to Group B in GTMI, showing “significant focus” in digital transformation with core government systems score of 0.645, GovTech enablers at 0.667, and an overall GTMI of 0.678.

In artificial intelligence readiness, Benin ranks among the top five in Sub‑Saharan Africa, trailing only behind Mauritius, South Africa, Rwanda, and Senegal according to the Government AI Readiness Index. Its readiness score of approximately 41.4 demonstrates that Benin is a pioneer among lower-middle-income countries in adopting AI strategy, legal frameworks, and public-sector innovation planning.

These strengths reflect Benin’s strong institutional architecture, notably ASIN’s leadership, and its proactive rollout of foundational digital infrastructure—such as interoperability platforms, digital identity services, and PKI—alongside targeted initiatives like the National AI Strategy (SNIAM 2023–2027). Together, these elements position Benin as a standout performer in both GovTech transformation and national AI preparedness in West Africa.

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Côte d’Ivoire has positioned itself as a digital leader in West Africa, supported by significant investments in broadband infrastructure, submarine connectivity, and mobile financial services. The country is connected to multiple high-capacity submarine cables—WACS, MainOne, SAT-3, and soon 2Africa—giving it one of the region’s strongest international bandwidth capacities. Its mobile money ecosystem, driven by Orange and MTN, is among the most developed in Francophone Africa, underpinning the expansion of e-commerce, where informal platforms dominate and urban online retail continues to grow steadily.

The government has adopted a wide range of digital strategies, including the National Digital Development Strategy 2021–2025, the Cybersecurity Strategy 2021–2025, and the National AI and Data Governance Strategy launched in 2025. Côte d’Ivoire also has one of West Africa’s most comprehensive data protection laws (since 2013) and an active regulatory authority, ARTCI, overseeing both data privacy and telecoms. Public services are undergoing digitisation through major initiatives like PARAE and Zero-Paper 2030, while capacity-building efforts are channelled through the Smart Africa Digital Academy and local innovation hubs.

In terms of AI, Côte d’Ivoire is among the few African countries with a dedicated national AI strategy and ethics framework, including a planned ‘Safe AI’ label. The country also leads in regional efforts to integrate AI in governance, environmental monitoring, and public policy, and has produced internationally recognised innovators. With continued focus on infrastructure, inclusion, and ethics, Côte d’Ivoire is emerging as one of the most digitally progressive states in West Africa.

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Sri Lanka serves as a key hub in the global submarine cable network, enhancing its international connectivity. The country is connected by several major submarine cables, including SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, and the recently landed SEA-ME-WE 6, which link Sri Lanka to regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe. Additionally, the Bharat Lanka Cable System directly connects Sri Lanka with India, while the Maldives Sri Lanka Cable System (MSC) links it to the Maldives. These systems are managed through landing stations in Colombo, Mount Lavinia, and Matara, operated by Sri Lanka Telecom and Dialog Axiata. This extensive submarine cable infrastructure positions Sri Lanka as a vital node in global telecommunications.

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Andorra demonstrates a notably advanced digital infrastructure and connectivity profile. It was the first country worldwide to achieve 100 % fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage, ensuring widespread high-speed internet access. Its fixed broadband performance ranks among the highest globally: according to Ookla, Andorra held the 6th fastest fixed broadband speeds, averaging 211 Mbps download and 96 Mbps upload, which well exceeds global averages. Additionally, the ICT Development Index (IDI) 2024 places Andorra in a high tier (score: 88.8/100), ahead of most countries and indicating strong digital maturity in areas like connectivity, usage, and infrastructure.

In terms of digital public services and adoption, Andorra performs strongly, though it lacks published comparative rankings. As of 2024, the country scored 76.4/100 for digital public services to citizens and 88.5/100 for businesses, with e-health records access scoring 72.6/100, all aligning with its Digital Decade ambitions. Digital identity systems are also well-developed: Andorra achieved a Digital Identity Readiness Score of 77.5/100, categorised as ‘High,’ supported by robust online authentication and verification capabilities. Internet adoption is high among the population: 95.5 % were internet users in early 2025, with mobile connections exceeding 150 % of the population, and 98.3 % of these being broadband-capable.

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The government’s dedication to digital transformation is exemplified by initiatives like the ‘Digital Bangladesh Vision,’ which seeks to integrate technology across various sectors to foster economic growth and improve public services. A key player in this endeavor is the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), which has established multiple data centers, including Tier III and Tier IV facilities, to ensure uninterrupted government services and enhance data management capabilities.

Projects such as the Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government (Info-Sarker) have significantly expanded high-speed internet connectivity to district and upazila levels, bridging the digital divide and facilitating better access to information. Additionally, over 4,500 Digital Centers have been established nationwide, providing citizens with access to various digital services, including e-governance, education, and healthcare.

To strengthen international connectivity, Bangladesh has invested in submarine cable systems like SEA-ME-WE 4 and SEA-ME-WE 5, with landing stations in Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, respectively. These investments have substantially increased the nation’s bandwidth capacity, supporting the growing demand for internet services and facilitating global communication.​

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Angola’s standout digital strength is international connectivity diversity. Alongside legacy SAT-3/WASC and WACS landings at Luanda/Sangano, Angola operates SACS, the world’s first trans-South Atlantic cable linking Angola to Brazil (RFS 2018), and welcomed a 2Africa landing in Luanda in 2023. This mix gives the country unique routing options on Africa’s west coast and resilience when regional routes are impaired.

Domestically, Angola performs strongly in local interconnection: the Luanda IXP (Angonix) is among Africa’s largest exchanges, and the Internet Society’s tracker shows high IXP coverage of domestic networks (≈approximately 84%), indicating that a large share of Angolan networks can exchange traffic locally, thereby reducing latency and costs.

On the policy side, Angola has a comprehensive data-protection law (Lei 22/11) enforced by the Agência de Protecção de Dados, and it is progressing with next-generation access via 5G spectrum in the 3.3–3.7 GHz band, licensed to Unitel, Movicel, and Africell. A state-led Rede Nacional de Banda Larga (RNBL) programme is being expanded, with sizeable investments planned for 2025, pointing to continued backbone growth.

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Morocco’s connectivity base is strong by regional standards. Mobile penetration reached roughly 149% of the population in Q1-2024 (55.2 million SIMs), reflecting multi-SIM use and wide network reach. In November 2025, all three operators, Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and Inwi, launched 5G services, with early coverage concentrated in major cities and phased expansion through 2025–2026.

Traffic localisation and resilience are improving. The regulator ANRT formalised a national Internet exchange point (IXP) project in December 2023, contracting turnkey implementation and management, a step expected to lower latency and costs for domestic traffic. Internationally, Morocco adds new Mediterranean capacity via the Medusa system (landing at Nador), complementing existing Europe links and supporting cloud/content routes to nearby Iberian regions.

On the service and governance side, digital commerce and cloud are scaling with clearer rules. CMI’s official dashboard shows sustained growth in online payments and e-commerce transactions through 2023–2024, while a binding cloud-qualification regime, Decree No. 2-24-921 issued by DGSSI, now governs use of cloud providers for sensitive and critical systems (published in the Official Bulletin in February 2025). Together, these measures position Morocco among the more structured digital markets in North Africa.

Consult Morocco’s digital strategies and regulations

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