Davos 2026: African Union calls for continental fibre backbone to unlock digital investment at WEF

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The African Union has renewed calls for accelerated investment in integrated digital infrastructure to support Africa’s economic transformation, as leaders and stakeholders gathered for a high-level roundtable at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.

The session, co-hosted by the African Union under the theme “Catalysing Investment in Africa’s Digital Connectivity,” focused on addressing fragmentation in the continent’s digital infrastructure and advancing the vision of a Single Digital Market. Participants examined the structural barriers limiting cross-border connectivity, despite significant national investments in fibre optic networks across countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Speaking at the roundtable, H.E. Commissioner Lerato D. Mataboge highlighted that while thousands of kilometres of fibre have been deployed across the continent, many networks remain confined within national borders. This fragmentation, she noted, has contributed to high broadband costs and the continued routing of a large share of Africa’s data traffic outside the continent, limiting affordability and access for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as young people seeking to participate in the digital economy.

Commissioner Mataboge stressed that Africa’s digital challenge has shifted from infrastructure deployment to integration. She underscored the need to transition from isolated national assets to a unified Continental Fibre Backbone capable of supporting seamless connectivity, data flows and digital services across borders.

She further emphasized that the financing required to achieve this vision exists within Africa. With more than one trillion US dollars held in institutional assets such as pension and sovereign wealth funds, the Commissioner argued that redirecting capital from low-yield instruments into strategic digital infrastructure would represent both a development imperative and a sound investment opportunity. Such investments, she noted, have the potential to unlock significant gains in economic growth across the continent.

The roundtable concluded with a call for coordinated action to transform Africa’s existing digital assets into shared continental infrastructure, positioning connectivity as a driver of inclusive growth, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.