The case of digital inclusion as Africa's economic game-changer

IN UGANDA'S remote Buheesi village, a school once disconnected from the world now accesses digital textbooks and submits reports in real time, thanks to a pilot program merging rural electrification with fibre-optic deployment.

- NOMVULA MABUZA

This transformation underscores the power of digital inclusion, a force that can reshape economies and empower millions.

At its core, financial technology (fin-tech), the use of digital platforms like mobile apps and blockchain to deliver banking, payments and investment services, drives this change by making financial systems accessible to the under-served.

For Africa, with 18% of the global population but less than 1% of the world’s data centre capacity, digital inclusion is not just about connectivity; it is about economic sovereignty and global competitiveness.

South Africa, with its industrial strength and technological promise, is poised to lead this revolution.

By prioritising fintech, rural connectivity, gender inclusion and youth empowerment, it can bridge the global digital divide and redefine Africa's future.

The digital economy is the backbone of modern progress, with monumental stakes.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 9 calls for resilient infrastructure and innovation to close digital gaps, a priority echoed globally.

India’s digital payment revolution exemplifies this: over 1.2 billion people use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a real-time payment system that enables instant bank transfers via mobile apps, slashing transaction costs and boosting financial inclusion.

Africa, however, lags significantly.

With mobile subscriptions projected to reach 1.4 billion by 2024, the continent has a foundation—yet only 24% of SubSaharan Africans use the internet, compared to the global average of 66%.

High data costs exacerbate this divide.