What has the expansion of digital technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa revealed about some of the key challenges the continent faces?
What has the expansion of digital technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa revealed about some of the key challenges the continent faces?

Author(s): Karen Allen
Subject(s): Security and defense, Health and medicine and law, Social Informatics, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: digital technologies; COVID-19; Africa; digital transformation;
Summary/Abstract: The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic across Africa, like in many other parts of the world has been varied but as a continent it has served to propel what was already an observable trend–a steady increase in internet usage–owing to greater access to mobile phone and smartphone technology, tablets, laptops and affordable data. Africa has witnessed a sixfold increase in the number of people using the internet between 2010 and 2022, with currently about 565 million online users. Those in the formal employment sector, who were forced to work from home due to social distancing regulations, as well as an increased number of people online generally, contributed to more social interactions and other services being conducted online.

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