ATU Summit Ends in Abuja, Targets End To Connectivity Deficit Across Underserved Communities

In a decisive step towards closing the continent’s widening digital divide, ICT ministers and heads of delegation across Africa have formally adopted the ‘2026 Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa.’  

The agreement, reached during the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) in Abuja, commits member states to prioritising internet access in rural, remote, and underserved regions.

The adoption comes against the backdrop of stark global disparities in digital technology access.

While global internet penetration continues to expand rapidly, Africa remains significantly behind other continents, creating severe economic and social barriers for millions of its citizens.

A statement from the member states drew attention to the sharp global contrast in connectivity.

Signed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who takes over the Chairperson’s role for Nigeria, the statement says that members were “mindful of the fact that global internet usage has reached approximately 68%, and as high as 94% in high-income regions, but internet penetration in Africa stands at just over 38%, the lowest among all ITU regions.”

To tackle this gap, the declaration establishes a comprehensive framework focused on demand stimulation, infrastructure deployment, and equitable access to digital resources.

The continent’s leadership affirmed that closing the connectivity gap in underserved areas has become an urgent priority that requires immediate, unified policy execution across all member nations.

The Chairperson emphasised the urgency of the declaration, saying: “Affirming that closing Africa’s connectivity and usage gap, particularly in rural, remote and underserved communities, is an urgent continental priority.”

The assembly concluded with a call to international development partners, industry leaders, and civil society to align investments with the strategic objectives of the AU Agenda 2063 and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.