Microsoft surpasses Africa connectivity goal

During the B20 South Africa Summit last week, Microsoft revealed that it has now connected more than 117 million people in Africa to the internet, surpassing its original 2025 goal

The company also announced a new partnership with the African Development Bank to strengthen small and medium enterprises in the agriculture sector through a combination of financing support and technological solutions.

Bridging the digital divide

Microsoft’s expanded connectivity efforts stem from a commitment made in 2022 to broaden internet access and provide digital skills training across Africa. The achievement was made possible through collaborations with regional Internet Service Providers, hardware manufacturers, and global development organisations. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in narrowing Africa’s digital divide and advancing inclusive socioeconomic development.

“Connectivity is a key enabler for AI adoption and inclusive growth,” Melanie Nakagawa, chief sustainability officer, Microsoft said. “Without access to the internet, the promise of technology remains out of reach. To meaningfully participate in this moment of transformation, we must also empower people with the skills to use these digital tools.”

Microsoft plans to integrate increased connectivity with AI-powered solutions designed to advance economic opportunities. Expanded internet access has already delivered tangible improvements: enhanced patient care through video consultations in rural Kenya, more affordable devices and youth gaming hubs in South Africa, and high-speed broadband paired with free public Wi-Fi to support community learning and local business engagement.

Transforming African agriculture through digital innovation

Microsoft also confirmed its support for the African Development Bank’s creation of a continent-wide financing mechanism dedicated to agricultural SMEs. This fund will merge financial resources with improved digital infrastructure to strengthen productivity and enhance climate resilience, leveraging both Microsoft’s technology capabilities and AfDB’s financial expertise.

Digital connectivity, paired with AI tools, is positioned as a catalyst for growth, resilience and broader participation across African economies. Microsoft noted that the continent’s growing digital ecosystem — together with the launch of the AfDB Financing Agribusiness SME Trust Fund — illustrates how coordinated financial and technological efforts can scale solutions. As the company emphasized, no single organization can eliminate the digital divide or fully unlock AI-driven opportunity on its own.