Tapping into Africa's digital divide

In a recent interview on CNBC Africa, Jerome Henique, Executive Vice President and CEO for Middle East and Africa at Orange, highlighted the crucial role of connectivity in bridging Africa's digital divide. Henique emphasized that improving digital skills is essential to addressing shortages on the continent. Orange, a key private sector operator in Africa with a presence in 18 countries, is at the forefront of efforts to enhance connectivity and cultivate digital talent. Orange's primary focus in Africa is to increase connectivity across the continent. With 143 million customers, the company is dedicated to expanding infrastructure, including broadband, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband. Henique stressed the importance of extending connectivity to rural and ultra-rural areas, underscoring Orange's annual investment of over 1 billion euros in Africa primarily in infrastructure development. Beyond enhancing connectivity, Orange is committed to nurturing digital skills among African populations. The company's Orange Digital Centres initiative provides free training in coding, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and other essential skills. To date, Orange has trained 750,000 individuals, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth in technological proficiency. Orange's impact extends beyond digital inclusion to financial inclusion through Orange Money, a mobile wallet service. Launched in 2008 in Ivory Coast, Orange Money now boasts over 80 million users, with 30 million engaging daily. This innovative platform serves as a substitute for traditional bank accounts, catering to the significant portion of the Sub-Saharan African population that lacks access to formal banking services. Henique acknowledged the evolving landscape of financial services, noting the collaborative efforts between telecom operators, traditional banks, and fintech firms to drive digital payment solutions. He emphasized the shared objective of reducing cash transactions and enhancing transaction security for consumers and merchants. As telecom companies expand their offerings, Orange is actively engaged in diverse sectors such as energy, health, and agriculture. The company's initiatives include Orange Smart Energy, facilitating access to solar energy solutions, and partnerships with healthcare startups like Dabadoc to promote teleconsultation services. In the agricultural domain, Orange collaborates with companies like Brastorm to deliver farmers with valuable weather insights and market information. Reflecting on the discussions at the African CEO Forum in Abidjan, Henique highlighted the collective commitment across governments, private sectors, and all stakeholders to drive the digital transformation of Africa. He emphasized Orange's pivotal role in advancing this transformative agenda, underlining the company's dedication to fostering technological innovation and inclusive growth on the continent. As Orange continues its strategic investments in connectivity, skills development, and innovative partnerships, the company reinforces its position as a driving force in bridging Africa's digital gap and propelling the continent towards a thriving digital future.