Hyperscalers Convergence Africa
The Power of Convergence
Africa’s digital landscape is ablaze with activity. New and faster subsea cables have landed on the continent, towercos and fiber networks are sprouting across cities, and satellite companies are eyeing mobile broadband dominance—all driven by the relentless pursuit of seamless connectivity. Yet, amidst this individual brilliance, a critical piece remains missing: convergence. Without a unifying conductor harmonizing these efforts, the true potential of Africa’s digital transformation remains unrealized.
Subsea cables carry data at breakneck speeds, but populations struggle with patchy last-mile connections. ISPs and Towercos duplicate fiber to homes, but data center capacity lags behind, throttling the potential of cloud computing. Space-based internet beams down, but rural communities remain in digital darkness due to cost, lack of inclusive infrastructure, and literacy barriers. This fragmented approach leads to inefficient resource allocation, connectivity bottlenecks, and stunted growth of digital ecosystems, with the proverbial too much water and none to drink.
The answer lies in convergence—harmonizing the diverse instruments of digital infrastructure into a cohesive symphony. Collaborative efforts across verticals are crucial, bringing together subsea operators, towercos, ISPs, government, civil society, space, data center stakeholders, and funders. Together, these stakeholders can chart a collective digital future for Africa and work towards it, ensuring that the continent’s digital transformation is inclusive, efficient, and far-reaching.
