Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has called on governments, industry leaders, and innovators to unite in expanding affordable and inclusive mobile connectivity across Africa.
He was speaking on Monday, October 20, at a dinner hosted to welcome participants to the Mobile World Congress 2025, which begins in Kigali on Tuesday.
Nsengiyumva told the delegates attending Africa's most influential connectivity event that their presence over the next three days “reflects our collective determination to accelerate African digital transformation through innovation, investment, and collaboration.”
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He stated that Rwanda's partnership with GSMA, the conference organiser, and the mobile industry continues to show what can be achieved when the public and private sector work together with a clear purpose and shared ambition.
“In just a decade, Africa's mobile story has gone from connectivity to creativity. It has been a story of partnership and persistence. We have connected more than half a billion Africans, created a $1 trillion mobile money economy, and turned mobile connectivity into a driver for growth, innovation, and inclusion,” Nsengiyumva stated.
He commended all those who continue to play a role in shaping Africa's connected future, pointing to the need to carry forward the spirit of collaboration and bold ambitions.
“Over the coming days, this Congress will focus on one of our continent's most critical priorities, and that is expanding affordable and inclusive connectivity to all Africans,” he said.
“Our story is still being written, and the next chapter must be born. Together, we can reimagine the future, one in which technology becomes a true driver of opportunity and growth. If we move in unison, we can bridge the digital divide, accelerate inclusion, and ensure that AI and next-generation technologies at least don't exclude our people.”
As the continent celebrates how far it has come, it should also look ahead with renewed energy and ambition, he said.
“May this week be filled with groundbreaking ideas, bold partnerships, and real commitments that move Africa from being simply connected to being truly digitally empowered,” he said.
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Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA noted that it's been almost 40 years since the first mobile call was made here in Africa. He said the mobile industry has grown to serve 710 million customers on the continent, and the number is projected to reach 915 million by 2030.
Even more exciting than the growth of mobile adoption are the innovations that came with it, he pointed out. These innovations include mobile money, he said, citing 1 billion registered accounts, over $1 trillion in transactions per year in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“And that is very much an African phenomenon,” Badrinath said.
Today, he said, digital transformation is accelerating across Africa, opening up new opportunities for governments, businesses, and citizens alike.
“Here in Rwanda, we see what's possible when there is strategic investment in technology and innovation. With initiatives like the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub, the country is becoming one of Africa's leading hotspots,” he observed.
“Looking at this week, AI will be one of our big topics. As technology accelerates, we're seeing new investments and a wave of homegrown use cases.”
