Google pledged $1bn for Africa’s digital transformation
Google is set to invest US$1 billion in Africa over the next five years to build faster and more affordable internet access, and to support entrepreneurship within the continent.
According to the World Bank, internet reliability is a problem in the continent as less than a third of its 1.3 billion population are connected to broadband.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said that the investment “will support digital transformation by ensuring improved connectivity and access” for every African local.
The one billion funds will be allocated to infrastructure development including the Equiano subsea cable that will connect South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, and St Helena with Europe.
This financial assistance extends Google’s previous pledge of training around 10 million young Africans and small-scale businesses in digital skills.
