Frehiwot Tamru, CEO of ethio telecom, has called for a more coordinated and unified approach to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Speaking during the GSMA Ministerial Roundtable at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, she emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders across the continent to address the persistent digital divide that continues to affect millions of people.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, regulators, development partners, and telecom industry leaders to explore strategies that can drive meaningful digital progress across Africa. Tamru acknowledged the efforts of GSMA and GSMA Intelligence in developing the Digital Africa Index, a tool designed to measure the continent’s digital development and provide insights that can inform policy and investment decisions.
However, she noted that the effectiveness of the index is currently limited by the lack of comprehensive data submissions from many African countries. According to Tamru, only a small number of nations have provided the required digital sector data, meaning that much of the analysis is based on partial information. She urged governments and institutions across Africa to actively contribute national digital data to strengthen the index and improve evidence-based policymaking, regulatory reforms, and long-term investment planning.
Tamru also highlighted that Africa’s digital transformation efforts have often been approached in a fragmented and sequential manner. Many initiatives have focused individually on network expansion, digital inclusion, affordable internet-enabled devices, or emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. She stressed that true digital progress requires an integrated strategy where infrastructure, devices, digital content, enabling policies, and regulations evolve simultaneously.
Looking ahead, Tamru emphasized that meaningful progress will depend on deep collaboration between governments, regulators, telecom operators, technology partners, and development institutions. Without this level of coordination, she warned that closing Africa’s digital divide could take decades. A unified approach, she noted, will be critical in unlocking the full potential of digital connectivity to drive economic growth, innovation, and inclusive development across the continent.
