Emerging Connectivity in Africa

Welcome to your course on Emerging Connectivity in Africa!

Africa is home to 1.3 billion people across 55 countries, and the demand for high-speed, high-quality connectivity has never been greater. This course equips policymakers to harness 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and broadband as engines of digital development, while navigating the affordability, infrastructure and regulatory realities that shape deployment on the continent.

The curriculum examines the characteristics and benefits of 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and broadband, the practical opportunities and challenges of adoption, and the use cases that show what these technologies make possible across education, healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and financial inclusion. It then provides the policy and regulatory frameworks, including the seven considerations for 5G policy and the seven considerations for broadband, before closing with implementation strategies and a localised deployment project.

By mastering these concepts, you will be equipped to evaluate and plan emerging-connectivity deployment in your own national context.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify the characteristics and benefits of 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and broadband connectivity in the African context.
• Analyse the practical challenges, opportunities and use cases for emerging connectivity within your localised context.
• Apply the seven policy considerations for 5G and the seven for broadband to a gap analysis of your country's regulatory framework.
• Evaluate the implementation strategies, partnerships and investment patterns required to deploy emerging connectivity successfully.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for policymakers, regulators, and connectivity officials across Africa. It is highly beneficial for individuals who are:

• Involved in national spectrum, broadband, or rural connectivity policy and rollout planning.
• Seeking to implement technology-driven, inclusive solutions such as 5G use cases, Wi-Fi 6E in public spaces, or rural broadband.
• Responsible for aligning local connectivity policy with continental digital strategies and universal access targets.