Angola seeks more African voice in global digital governance
Minister Mário Oliveira argued at the ITU conference in Doha for greater African representation in digital decision-making.
Angola, through its Minister of Telecommunications Mário Oliveira, called for a stronger African voice in global digital governance at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference in Doha, Qatar. The minister stated on Monday that African nations should have more weight in decisions shaping the worldwide digital ecosystem.
Oliveira addressed the plenary session of the ITU, the UN agency for information and communication technologies, which meets every four years to set strategy and elect leaders. He reaffirmed Angola's commitment to international processes for digital development, aiming to strengthen connectivity infrastructure and foster a more inclusive digital society.
The minister highlighted Angola's investments in its space industry, connectivity infrastructure, and international submarine cables, noting that over 85% of the population is covered by broadband services. He also pointed out that only 36% of Africans are connected to the internet, advocating for deeper multilateral cooperation and joint mechanisms for regulation, financing, and technical training on the continent.
Why it mattersAngolan citizens and businesses are affected by global digital governance decisions that impact internet access and technological development.