The African Finance Corporation released its State of African Infrastructure Report for 2025. The report analyses the state of infrastructure in four sectors, Energy, Transport and Logistics, Industry and Manufacturing and Digital Infrastructure At Techies Node, our concern is in the Digital Infrastructure and how it impacts on startups and building hardware and software solutions. Here are certain interesting points from the report that will be of interest to tech founders.
Africa’s digital transformation is gaining pace—the challenge now is to connect the unconnected, scale the infrastructure backbone, and build inclusive digital economies. The landing of ultra-modern subsea cables is unlocking massive bandwidth potential across Africa’s coastlines. Available capacity provides fresh grounds to anchor middle-mile infrastructure—including terrestrial fibre, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), and regional data centres. Developing this infrastructure is essential to building Africa’s digital sovereignty and competing in cloud computing, AI, and next-generation services.
Affordability is the first barrier—but not the last. Beyond cheaper data, Africa must liberalise markets, improve digital literacy, and promote ecosystems that enable meaningful technology use.
Connectivity gaps are most acute in rural areas, where usage remains far below urban averages. Crowdfunding and community financing are emerging as practical tools to extend access.
Digital public infrastructure and shared infrastructure models are unlocking new investment pathways. Public-private collaboration around DPI (e.g., digital ID, e-payments) and infrastructure sharing (e.g., fibre on power lines or railways) offers high-impact, scalable opportunities. These models reduce costs, expand service reach, and are gaining traction across the continent. To maximise these benefits, the time has come for a continent-wide commitment to multi-use corridors.
According to the African Finance Corporation here are the things that governments and other policy making agents should be doing to enhance the growth of digital infrastructure in Africa:
1. Target rural connectivity gaps — Narrowing the rural–urban divide is the single biggest lever to reduce Africa’s internet access deficit, especially in countries where rural populations exceed 60–70%.
2. Scale infrastructure investment — Africa expands its fibre backbone and last-mile connectivity through greater public–private investment and infrastructure sharing.
3. Roll out a phased liberalisation of digital markets — A well-calibrated opening of telecom sectors to competition and foreign investment can rapidly accelerate network coverage, as seen in Ethiopia’s post-monopoly surge.
4. Harmonise digital policy — Coordinated legislation on data sovereignty, protection, and interoperability is essential to unlock private capital and scale.
5. Boost digital skills and DPI — Investing in digital literacy and public digital infrastructure (like e-ID and payments) will drive inclusion, job creation, and productivity.
Read the full State of African Infrastructure 2025 Report here.
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