African leaders and telecommunications stakeholders have adopted the 2026 Abuja Declaration, a landmark commitment to make internet access more affordable, smartphones cheaper, and broadband available to millions across the continent. The declaration was the culmination of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries, hosted by Nigeria in Abuja.
Key Commitments of the Abuja Declaration
The declaration commits member states to improving broadband penetration, reducing the cost of digital services, strengthening cybersecurity, enhancing consumer protection, and expanding digital literacy—particularly for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and underserved communities. It also encourages technology-neutral policies that allow fibre optic, satellite, mobile, and community networks to coexist and compete fairly.
Speaking at the conference, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the urgency of these measures. "While millions have yet to benefit from digital transformation, we know what it takes to close the gap," she said. She noted that mobile broadband now covers about 86% of Africa's population, yet only 36% of Africans actually use the internet. Affordability remains a major barrier; mobile data consumes around 4.2% of monthly household income in some African countries—almost twice the Broadband Commission's target. Fixed broadband can cost more than 15% of monthly income in certain areas.
Unused Universal Service Funds
Bogdan-Martin revealed that approximately $265 million in Universal Service Funds across 12 African countries remained unused over a one-year period, despite being designated for expanding internet access in underserved regions. She urged governments to tap into these resources to bridge connectivity gaps.
Initiatives such as the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition aim to make smartphones—including refurbished and entry-level devices—more accessible. She stressed that digital skills are equally critical. "People don't wake up in the morning asking for artificial intelligence; they want better health care, better education, better jobs and better public services," she added.
Regulatory Modernisation Key to Lower Costs
Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications at GSMA Africa, called for regulatory reform. "Regulatory modernisation is not a technical footnote to connectivity policy. It is the enabler on which everything else depends," she said. According to her, countries that have adopted technology-neutral licensing, fair spectrum pricing, and infrastructure sharing have achieved 5G coverage levels roughly 40 percentage points higher than those without such reforms, citing the ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025.
She also pointed to the World Bank's Regional Digital Integration Programme in West Africa, where modern licensing reforms boosted broadband penetration from 26% to 36% within three years and halved the cost of one gigabyte of data from about 10% of monthly income to around 5%. She urged African governments to harmonise satellite licensing and ensure equal regulatory treatment for all providers. "When rules diverge, when one class of provider faces a lighter fiscal and licensing burden for delivering the same service, capital notices and it flows towards regulatory certainty, not away from it," she warned.
Nigeria Takes on Greater Continental Role
Nigeria was elected as the new chair of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the next institutional cycle. At the closing ceremony, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr Bosun Tijani emphasised the need for continued collaboration. "Every discussion, every decision, every compromise has reflected a shared commitment and belief that Africa's digital future is stronger when we work together," he said. He added that the decisions would only achieve their intended impact if member states continue to work with purpose, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to ensuring every African benefits from the digital economy.
Meanwhile, Kezias Kazuba Mwale of Zambia was elected the next Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union after four rounds of voting. He will assume office on January 1, 2027, for a four-year term. Accepting the mandate, Mwale stated: "I accept this mandate with a deep sense of responsibility, mindful that leadership is not a privilege to be enjoyed, but a trust to be honoured and carefully guarded."
Outgoing Secretary-General's Call to Action
Outgoing ATU Secretary-General John Omo presented the ministerial declaration, which covers digital inclusion, broadband expansion, infrastructure resilience, technology neutrality, regulatory harmonisation, consumer protection, fiscal policy, and digital sovereignty. He called on member states to act with urgency and urged operators and development partners to increase investments to help close Africa's connectivity gap.
The Abuja Declaration marks a significant step toward achieving meaningful connectivity across Africa, with concrete targets and renewed political will to ensure that the continent's digital transformation benefits all.
