Stakeholders convene to advance South Africa’s digital connectivity roadmap to 2035
Date: 2026-04-17
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
Government,
industry, and policy leaders have convened to discuss the implementation of
South Africa’s Digital Connectivity Roadmap to 2035, as part of efforts to
achieve universal and meaningful connectivity across the country.
The roundtable, held during the official launch of the
roadmap by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in partnership with
the National Planning Commission (NPC), brought together key stakeholders to
examine the investment and policy priorities required over the next decade.
Discussions focused on assessing connectivity needs
for the period 2025 to 2035, including the role of mobile, hybrid, and fibre
infrastructure in expanding access. Participants also addressed critical
enablers such as affordability, digital skills development, and governance
reforms necessary to support inclusive digital growth.
The engagement aimed to foster
coordinated action between the public and private sectors to accelerate
connectivity rollout and ensure that digital access translates into meaningful
socio-economic outcomes.
Senior representatives from
government institutions, financial bodies, and the telecommunications sector
contributed to the dialogue, offering insights on strategy, investment
frameworks, and implementation challenges.
Stakeholders
emphasized that sustained collaboration and targeted investments will be
essential to bridging the digital divide and positioning South Africa for
long-term digital transformation.
