• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Digital Market

seeing people behind the digits

  • About
  • Blockchain and Fintech Events
  • Tech Jobs
  • Domain Names
  • Reports
    • Technology
    • Venture Capital
  • Sponsored Post
    • Make a Contribution
  • Contact

SoftBank Corp. and Smart Africa Secretariat Agree to Collaborate on Providing Affordable Broadband Solutions to Enable the Digital Transformation of Africa

June 30, 2021 By admin

SoftBank Corp. to explore deployment of Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Solutions in suitable regions of Africa to connect the unconnected

TOKYO & KIGALI, Rwanda – SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434, “SoftBank”) and Smart Africa Secretariat (“Smart Africa”) today announced they entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on innovative solutions towards achieving the vision of providing affordable broadband. Through this partnership, SoftBank and Smart Africa will work to bridge the digital divide by providing accessible and affordable internet connectivity to Africa’s underserved regions.

Through various projects and activities, Smart Africa has an ambitious strategy to double broadband penetration to 51% in Africa by 2025. As part of achieving this vision, Smart Africa is working to implement the Bulk Capacity Purchase Project, an initiative that aims to deliver affordable internet connectivity for African citizens through the large-scale joint procurement efforts of Smart Africa member countries. To contribute to the Project, SoftBank will deploy its Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Solutions to reduce internet costs and build affordable internet infrastructure. SoftBank also became a Smart Africa Gold Member in October 2020.

SoftBank’s NTN Solutions will utilize the connectivity services of OneWeb, Skylo, and HAPSMobile, among other solutions, that provide connectivity from space and the stratosphere. SoftBank aims to deploy NTN Solutions in African markets by collaborating with Smart Africa and working closely with its member countries.

SoftBank and Smart Africa will begin their collaboration by identifying demand for NTN solutions and conducting further feasibility studies in the five African countries that have already expressed interest in the Bulk Capacity Purchase Project (the Republic of Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Republic of Rwanda). SoftBank and Smart Africa will also draw up implementation plans and consider potential market entries in the future.

The partnership, with a vision to expand the area of work from internet infrastructure into digital transformation (DX), will boost the transition and development of a knowledge-based social economy in Africa. The collaboration will also align with the fundamentals of Smart Africa’s goal, which is the realization of a single digital market on the continent through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). To bridge the digital divide, SoftBank and Smart Africa will also study ways to collaborate and engage with organizations such as the HAPS Alliance, which seeks to promote the commercial adoption of HAPS, among others. Further, through a series of engagements in the coming future, this partnership will also consequently work to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing digital solutions that address societal challenges.

Contributing to the SDGs is a top managerial priority for SoftBank, and the company has identified six key initiatives (materiality) to achieve them. “Building high-quality social communication networks” is one such initiative, and SoftBank is working to build sustainable communication infrastructure so people anywhere can connect to stable and trustworthy networks.

“The vision of transforming Africa into a single digital market requires us to embrace partnerships. Therefore we are honoured to welcome SoftBank Corp. into the Smart Africa Alliance. Together, we will be able to inject further innovation into Africa’s digital innovation as we move towards creating a Single Digital Market by 2030”, said Mr. Lacina Koné, Smart Africa’s CEO.

“We believe our NTN solutions will be extremely effective technologies to provide connectivity to African countries and regions that lack sufficient Internet access. With our NTN solutions powered by OneWeb, Skylo and HAPSMobile, we’ll work closely with Smart Africa to provide telecommunication networks”, said Mr. Hidebumi Kitahara, SoftBank Corp. Vice President and Head of the Technology Unit’s Global Business Strategy Division.

About Smart Africa
Smart Africa is an alliance of 32 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs. With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of State who seek to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market. Launched in 2013 by seven (7) African Heads of State, the Alliance now has 32 member countries, representing over 815 million people and over 40 Private Sector members committed to the vision and the advancement of Africa. Other private sector members of the Smart Africa Alliance include Facebook, Intel, Orange, Ericsson, Econet, Microsoft and Inmarsat among others. For more information:
Website: www.smartafrica.org
Twitter: @RealSmartAfrica
Facebook: RealSmartAfrica

About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) combines telecommunications services with cutting-edge technologies to create and operate new businesses. SoftBank Corp. serves more than 45 million mobile consumer and enterprise subscribers in Japan, and as part of its “Beyond Carrier” strategy, is redefining industries by leveraging its unique strengths as a network operator to fully harness the power of 5G, big data, AI, IoT, robotics and other key technologies. To learn more, please visit www.softbank.jp/en/

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Digital transformation, broadband

Primary Sidebar

App Coding

The Importance of Mobile App Security
Up the Ante by Coding Your Own WordPress Plugin
Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Social Media Data Analysis and Visualization App
The Benefits of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
How to code an app with ChatGPT
Cybertech 2023 in Tel Aviv: Navigating the Challenges of App Security
Building an E-commerce App: Key Considerations for Success

API Coding

How to Secure Your API: Best Practices for API Authentication and Authorization
Exploring the Benefits of Microservices Architecture and API Gateways
The API Security Imperative
Cybertech 2023 in Tel Aviv: Securing the Future with API Security
API Security Guide
How to stop API breaches
Creating an API that generates a description of an image using ChatGPT

Secondary Sidebar

Blockchaining

Highlights: Blockchain Conference in Tel Aviv
State of Technology Overview: Blockchaining 2023
Blockchain technology and carbon credits
Blockchain for Energy Launches Decentralized Platform for Building and Accessing Smart Contract Solutions
Discontinuation of TradeLens: The End of a Blockchain-Enabled Global Trade Platform by Maersk and IBM

Marketing Development

How the state of the economy affects marketing
Using Data-Driven Marketing to Increase Conversions
Social Media Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
How has the shift to tech impacted the role of a marketing specialist?
How to Write Inclusive Documentation

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Developing a Business Concept for Posters.org: Personalized Artwork with AI-Generated Designs
  • Sortium, a Generative AI & Web3 entertainment technology provider, has been accepted into the UC Berkeley Blockchain Xcelerator program
  • Calendarial.com Presents: 7 Smart Ways to Monetize Your Event Promoting Website
  • How to build a successful Instagram channel
  • 7 Proven Strategies for Selling Your Domain Name Quickly and Effectively
  • 10 Profitable Online Business Ideas That Can Be Managed by One Person
  • Why Brands Struggle with Ineffective Customer Service
  • The Benefits of Influencer Marketing for Your Business
  • The Rise of Voice Search and Its Impact on SEO
  • Digital Market 2023, March 22, 2023

Media Instances

Arthur Lanyon’s latest solo exhibition, Coda for an Obol, comes to St Ives’s Anima Mundi gallery this month
The Norse god Baldr was killed by a spear made of what?
Pinocchio syndrome
Stress comes to us all in tiny little assaults throughout the day
Scaling Agile for Distributed Teams

S3H

The most popular CRM apps: bots, messaging, phone and video calls, marketing automation and lead generation
Mastering Agile: A Hands-on Workshop on Agile Software Development
Exploring the World of Digital Twins: A Revolutionary Technology
The future of IoT and its impact on our lives and our world
AI has the potential to change postal services

VPNW

VPN Security: How to Stay Safe Online
VPN Services Take the Spotlight at MWC 2023: A Look at the Latest Offerings and Future Trends
The role of VPNs in protecting against cyber attacks and data breaches
AI-Powered VPNs: The Future of Online Privacy and Security
Building a simple VPN client with Python

Pixel Effects

Sanctions Bite: Russian Oligarchs Feel the Squeeze
The Magic of Nature
Digital gift ideas that you can consider
Halloween party
Pedestrians walking on a busy street in urban landscape

Copyright © 2022 DigitalMarket.org

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT