AfriLabs and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate digital innovation across the continent, combining AfriLabs’ network of over 500 innovation hubs in 53 countries with ATU’s regulatory reach across 52 member states.
Signed at the ATU headquarters in Nairobi, the agreement aims to tackle persistent barriers limiting Africa’s digital growth, including low internet penetration and fragmented regulatory frameworks. The partnership focuses on empowering innovators, boosting connectivity, and creating a supportive environment for startups to scale across borders.
“Today’s partnership marks a crucial moment in Africa’s digital journey, by aligning our pan-African network of innovation hubs, innovators and entrepreneurs with the regulatory and institutional influence of ATU, we are laying the groundwork for a future where every entrepreneur, regardless of location, can turn bold ideas into scalable solutions,” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs.
Despite projections that Africa’s internet economy could reach $712 billion by 2050, only 38% of Africans were online in 2024, the lowest rate globally according to the International Telecommunications Union. The MoU seeks to bridge this gap by aligning policy and innovation, and by fostering growth in mobile internet use, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where nearly a quarter of new global users are expected by 2030.
ATU Secretary General John Omo said the agreement aims to address long-standing regulatory challenges that constrain entrepreneurs.
“Our entrepreneurs have the ideas and resilience; however, they continue to face challenges such as fragmented regulations and limited continental visibility. This collaboration with AfriLabs seeks to provide a framework that will enable ATU and AfriLabs to address some of these challenges and innovators to concentrate on addressing practical issues rather than bureaucratic hurdles,” he said.
The partnership includes plans to integrate AfriLabs’ and ATU’s communications and programming, such as AfriLabs’ capacity-building initiatives and the ATU Africa Innovation Challenge, to promote mentorship, investment, and visibility for local innovation.
A key component of the MoU is a joint initiative to support intellectual property protection and commercialization for African startups. AfriLabs and ATU will advocate policies that strengthen the continent’s IP ecosystem, ensuring local innovations are safeguarded and globally competitive.
The agreement supports the African Union’s goal to raise internet access across the continent to 80% by 2030, as outlined in the AU Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020–2030.
