Telkom commits close to R100 million to launch Telkom AI Institute

Telkom has pledged a USD 6.1 million / R100 million commitment; to establish the Telkom AI Institute, a new platform designed to equip South Africans with artificial intelligence and digital skills, foster local innovation, and accelerate inclusive participation in the digital economy.

The pledge was announced today in Geneva, Switzerland as part of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition, which confirmed at the WSIS Forum 2026 High-Level Week that it has surpassed USD 82 billion in global commitments to connect the world. Telkom is one of only a handful of South African and African companies recognised in this round of pledges.

For Telkom, the announcement is about more than joining a global ledger. South Africa’s digital divide is no longer only a question of network coverage. As artificial intelligence reshapes economies faster than most skills systems can respond, the risk is that a second, harder-to-close gap will emerge: a divide between who is connected, but between who can use that connection to build a livelihood.

“Connectivity without capability only gets South Africa halfway there,” said Serame Taukobong, Group CEO, Telkom. “We have spent years building the networks that connect this country. The Telkom AI Institute is our commitment to ensuring that connectivity translates into skills, jobs and opportunity, starting with the South Africans who stand to gain the most and who have had the least access until now.”

The Telkom AI Institute will focus on practical, job-ready AI and digital skills training, with an emphasis on reaching young people, small businesses, and communities currently underserved by South Africa’s digital economy.

The pledge sits within Telkom’s broader Vision 2030 ambition to act as an orchestrator of possibility for South Africa’s digital future, extending the company’s role beyond being an infrastructure provider to becoming an active builder of the skills base the country needs to compete globally.

“Reaching USD 82 billion in Partner2Connect pledges is a defining milestone in our journey toward universal digital development,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “Now is the time to turn these pledges into impactful projects, aligning countries’ and regional priorities with partner commitments, and delivering measurable results across all regions.”

Since its launch in 2021, Partner2Connect has received more than 1,000 pledges from 149 countries, with projects now under way in more than 190 countries. Africa and Asia and the Pacific are the leading regions for implementation, and digital infrastructure accounts for the largest share of commitments globally. ITU estimates that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 could require between USD 2.6 trillion and USD 2.8 trillion worldwide.

Telkom’s pledge will be tracked through the ITU’s Partner2Connect platform alongside commitments from Partner2Connect Champions.

//Staff writer