PAN-AFRICAN TECH ALLIANCE SET TO UNLOCK AFRICA’S $712 BILLION INTERNET ECONOMY

AfriLabs and African Telecommunications Union Forge Strategic Pact to Supercharge Digital Innovation and Regulatory Reform Across the Africa.

Africa Afrilabs Atu Partnership Innovation Internet economy Digital development.
AfriLabs and ATU partners to accelerate tech-driven innovation and dismantle regulatory roadblocks
AfriLabs and ATU partners to accelerate tech-driven innovation and dismantle regulatory roadblocks



AfriLabs and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) have entered a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating tech-driven innovation and dismantling regulatory roadblocks that stifle entrepreneurial growth.

The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), unveiled at the ATU headquarters in Nairobi, connects AfriLabs’ expansive network of over 500 innovation hubs across 53 countries with ATU’s 52 member states, marking a unified approach to digital development that merges policy influence with grassroots ingenuity.

Africa’s internet economy is projected to reach $712 billion by 2050, yet only 38% of the population had access to the internet in 2024, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The AfriLabs–ATU alliance aims to reverse this trend by fostering regulatory harmonization, expanding access to digital infrastructure, and supporting the scale-up of homegrown tech solutions.

“This partnership offers a practical framework to overcome the fragmented policies and limited visibility our entrepreneurs face,” said John Omo, Secretary General of ATU. 

The collaboration also comes at a pivotal moment. Sub-Saharan Africa is poised to account for nearly 25% of all new global mobile internet users by 2030, with an estimated 247 million 5G connections expected across the continent. AfriLabs and ATU are determined to ensure this connectivity boom translates into tangible economic and social gains.

“This is more than a partnership, it’s a shift in how Africa approaches innovation,” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs. “We are co-creating an ecosystem where digital solutions can thrive without borders, red tape, or silos.”

With both organizations set to engage regional policymakers, the alliance is expected to shape the future of Africa’s digital landscape, transforming connectivity into opportunity and innovation into impact.

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