African Nations Adopt Plan for Cheaper Internet, Smartphones

African countries have adopted the 2026 Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, committing to make internet access more affordable, reduce the cost of smartphones, and expand digital connectivity across the continent. The declaration was adopted at the close of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Under the agreement, member states pledged to improve broadband infrastructure, promote technology-neutral regulations, strengthen consumer protection and cybersecurity, and expand digital literacy, particularly for women, youths, persons with disabilities, and underserved communities. Leaders said the measures are aimed at accelerating Africa's digital transformation and boosting economic growth.

Speaking at the conference, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said Africa already has the tools needed to bridge its digital divide through better policies, affordability and digital skills. She noted that although 86% of Africa's population is covered by mobile broadband, only 36% are actually online, largely because internet services and smartphones remain too expensive for many people.

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, called for stronger collaboration among African nations to implement the declaration, describing continental cooperation as essential to building a more connected and digitally inclusive Africa. The conference also elected Zambia's Kezias Mwale as the next ATU Secretary-General, while Nigeria assumed the chairmanship of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the next institutional cycle.