Microsoft has achieved a significant milestone in its global connectivity strategy, announcing that it has now provided internet access to more than 117 million people across Africa, surpassing its original 2025 target ahead of schedule. The announcement was made at the B20 South Africa Summit, where the company also revealed a major partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to launch a pan-African blended finance facility aimed at empowering agriculture-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with digital tools and capital.
Speaking at the Summit, Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, highlighted that connectivity remains the essential foundation for AI adoption and inclusive digital growth. “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,” she said.
Microsoft first committed in 2022 to deepen its investments in African connectivity, digital literacy and AI readiness. Achieving the 117 million milestone reflects the success of Microsoft’s multi-layered partnership model, which involves Internet Service Providers, middle-mile infrastructure providers, hardware manufacturers, local innovators, and multilateral institutions. This approach is helping the company expand access in a sustainable way, reduce infrastructure costs, and strengthen local digital ecosystems.
The real-world impact of these partnerships is evident across the continent. In rural Kenya, connectivity delivered by Mawingu — Microsoft’s longest-standing partner in East Africa — has enabled clinics in Laikipia County to use video consultations with specialists in Nairobi, improving outcomes in remote places where medical expertise is limited. Through Mastercard’s MADE Alliance, Mawingu is also supporting the digital upskilling of more than 50,000 farmers and helping cooperatives use data-driven tools to improve yields and expand market access.
In South Africa, Microsoft continues to collaborate with partners such as Ilitha, Liquid, Cisco and community organizations to expand broadband access and build digital skills. Its partnership with M-KOPA has enabled more than six million people to access connected devices through affordable pay-as-you-go financing models.
With its connectivity goal achieved, Microsoft is now shifting focus to the next frontier: pairing internet access with AI-enabled solutions that drive economic development, climate resilience, and job creation. Nakagawa stressed that Africa must not be left behind as AI reshapes the global economy. “We are turning access into impact, and connectivity into transformation,” she said.
As part of its new collaboration with the AfDB, Microsoft announced a pan-African facility that will mobilize long-term agricultural investment while equipping SMEs with digital and AI-driven tools to scale. The initiative aims to serve as a new blueprint for tech-enabled agricultural modernization by combining AfDB’s financial leadership with Microsoft’s digital ecosystem capabilities.
Nakagawa concluded by calling on partners across sectors to help expand these efforts, emphasizing that closing the digital divide and unlocking AI opportunities will require collective action.
//Staff writer
