Africa no longer wants to import technology. It wants to write the rules

Africa's Quest for Digital Influence: Can the Continent Break Free from Imported Rules?

For Sid Ali Zerrouki, Algeria's minister of post and telecommunications, the future of Africa's digital economy is no longer about just expanding internet access or building mobile networks. It's about something much more profound, influencing the very rules that govern the world's digital landscape. At the recent African Telecommunications Union's Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, Zerrouki and his fellow ministers made it clear that Africa wants to be more than just a passive consumer of technology; they want to be the architects of their own digital destiny.

Africa's push for digital influence reflects a broader shift in the global tech landscape. As technology becomes an increasingly powerful tool of economic power and geopolitical influence, countries are no longer treating digital infrastructure as simply an engine for economic growth. They're now viewing it as a strategic asset that underpins national competitiveness, security, and global influence. India's India Stack, a digital public infrastructure, and the European Union's legislation on data protection and artificial intelligence are prime examples of this new approach.

For years, conversations about Africa's digital future centred on expanding internet access, building mobile networks, and attracting investment from global technology companies. While these goals remain important, Africa's policymakers are now turning their attention to the rules that govern the digital economy. They're arguing that the continent can no longer afford to simply implement rules written elsewhere; instead, they want to have a say in shaping the global digital agenda.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is set to play a crucial role in this process. At next year's Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, countries will negotiate the standards and policies that determine how the world's digital economy operates. Africa's push for digital influence is likely to be a major theme at the conference, with ministers and regulators from across the continent arguing for a greater say in shaping the global digital agenda.

While Africa's push for digital influence is a welcome development, it's not without its challenges. The continent still lags behind in terms of digital infrastructure, with many countries struggling to expand their internet penetration rates. Moreover, the global digital economy is a complex and highly competitive space, with established players like the United States, China, and the European Union holding significant sway. Africa will need to navigate these challenges carefully if it's to succeed in its bid for digital influence.

As Africa's digital economy continues to grow, it's likely that the continent will become an increasingly important player in the global digital landscape. But for this to happen, African policymakers will need to work together to develop a shared vision for the continent's digital future. This will require cooperation and collaboration between governments, regulators, and the private sector, as well as a willingness to take on the challenges and complexities of shaping the global digital agenda.

In the end, Africa's quest for digital influence is not just about expanding internet access or building mobile networks. It's about something much more profound, building a digital economy that reflects the continent's unique values, needs, and priorities. As Sid Ali Zerrouki so eloquently put it, Africa must become a recognised architect of its own digital design, governance, and responsible use., will the continent succeed in breaking free from imported rules and writing its own digital destiny?

Africa's bid for digital influence is likely to be a defining theme of the 2020s, with the continent's policymakers pushing for greater say in shaping the global digital agenda. But as the continent navigates this complex and highly competitive space, one thing is clear: Africa will no longer be content with simply importing technology; it wants to write the rules.