From Addis to Rome: Connecting Africa Through Digital Infrastructure
After an inspiring few days in Addis Ababa at the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) 2024, I’ve landed in Rome to participate in Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues 2024, marking its 10th anniversary. The contrast between these two cities is striking, yet they are deeply connected by a shared stake in the future of digital infrastructure and connectivity—particularly through the Mediterranean basin.
Africa’s Digital Momentum: A Wake-Up Call from Addis
AfIGF 2024 highlighted just how much work remains to build a resilient, inclusive digital ecosystem across the African continent. While the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) offers transformative potential for economies and communities, the underlying infrastructure—connectivity, cloud access, data centers—is still lagging in many regions. This gap risks leaving entire populations behind unless immediate, strategic investments are made.
What resonated most with me was the urgency expressed by stakeholders—from youth-led digital rights advocates to senior policymakers—on ensuring Africa’s digital sovereignty. It’s no longer enough to expand access; we must do so with sustainability, equity, and regional ownership in mind.
Rome MED 2024: The Mediterranean as a Digital Superhighway
At Rome MED, I joined the Digital Infrastructure Forum under the theme "The Mediterranean: A Hotspot for Undersea Digital Infrastructure." The numbers are staggering: 95% of trans-regional communication traffic flows through undersea cables, many of which pass through the Mediterranean Sea. This region isn't just a geographic bridge—it’s a digital one too, linking Europe, Africa, and Asia in a dense web of connectivity.
Yet with great connectivity comes great responsibility. These undersea cables represent critical infrastructure, and their governance—often involving a mix of private consortia, state actors, and multinational frameworks—must be transparent, resilient, and inclusive.
The Opportunity Ahead: Bridging Digital Divides
Both events underscore a central truth: digital infrastructure is no longer a technical topic—it is geopolitical, economic, and deeply social. The Mediterranean’s role in enabling Africa’s connectivity places it at the heart of a much bigger conversation about regional integration and shared futures.
As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates, the synergy between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and between Africa and Europe, must grow stronger. Whether through regional fiber corridors, cross-border data governance, or inclusive ISP ecosystems, we have the opportunity to build not only faster internet—but fairer systems.
Let’s Collaborate
If you’re reading this and also attended MED 2024, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re in policy, infrastructure, civil society, or innovation—let’s find ways to work together to ensure that no one is left behind in this digital era.
The digital divide isn’t just a problem to solve; it’s a challenge to unite around.