The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched the Coalition for Digital Africa, an initiative aimed at expanding the Internet in Africa.
Conceived by ICANN, the coalition is an alliance of like-minded organisations committed to building a robust and secure Internet infrastructure to bring more Africans online.
Home to the youngest population on the planet, 70% of whom are under age 30, Africa has one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration rates in the world. Internet connectivity is growing by leaps and bounds – from 1.2% in 2000 to 43% in 2021 – driven by a digitally savvy, young and educated urban workforce for whom adopting and using online services is second nature.
“The Coalition for Digital Africa provides an opportunity for new ways of co-operating and collaborating among diverse stakeholders,” said ICANN President and CEO Gӧran Marby. “Though the coalition was initiated by ICANN, its success is dependent on synergistic work with other organisations – be they local, regional or international – who are united in their aim to enhance Africa’s Internet infrastructure, increase the rate of Internet access, bolster Internet security and raise the level of participation from Africa in multistakeholder policymaking development.”
The coalition will further promote innovation aimed at building technical capacity and encourage entrepreneurialism by enabling people to access the Internet using their own languages and scripts.
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