How shared digital infrastructure can bridge the gap in Africa

IN UGANDA'S Buheesi village, a school that once lacked electricity or internet now downloads digital textbooks and files reports in real time. The transformation came when a pilot programme combined rural electrification with fibre deployment, bringing both power and connectivity to the heart of the community.

- NII SIMMONDS OBINNA ISIADINSO

Across much of the world, digital infrastructure isn’t just about streaming videos or accessing cloud storage. It's about agency, access and advancement. Africa is home to 18% of the world’s population but holds less than 1% of global data centre capacity. That’s not just a stat — it’s a warning.

As AI, fintech and digital public services reshape the global economy, nations without compute power will be nations without control. In this new era, “compute is the new sovereignty”. And shared digital infrastructure (SDI), regional collaboration across cloud, data and power, is emerging as the smartest, fastest path to closing the gap.

Closing the AI divide

It’s no longer enough to be digitally connected. Without local data centres, hyperscale capabilities or sovereign cloud services, emerging economies will be forced to outsource intelligence, not just infrastructure.

The true divide will be between countries with the infrastructure to train and run AI models on their terms; and those dependent on platforms they don't control, in jurisdictions they don't influence.

The good news? There’ a path forward. And it’s already being tested.

What are the benefits of shared digital infrastructure?

Rather than each country shouldering the burden alone, SDI invites cooperation and collaboration. Think of it as the railway system of the AI era, built once, used by many, governed collectively.

Forms of SDI include:

M@ Regional data centres: Joint investments that reduce cost and boost redundancy.

Hi Digital commons models: Community or region-governed infrastructure cooperatives.

@ Sustainable power alliances: Shared renewable energy grids powering cross-border facilities.