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Microsoft has surpassed a major connectivity milestone in Africa, exceeding its 2025 goal of reaching 100 million people with internet access.
The company now counts more than 117 million individuals connected across the continent, with partnerships spanning ISPs, device manufacturers, agricultural cooperatives and, most recently, a new collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Developing Telecoms spoke with Microsoft Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa (pictured) about how the company defines meaningful connectivity, where its biggest impact has been so far, and how digital access is being paired with skills programs and blended finance to drive real economic outcomes.
DT: Melanie, thank you for joining us. You recently announced that Microsoft has connected 117 million people across Africa, exceeding your goal early. What exactly counts as a “connected individual,” and how should we interpret that number?
Nakagawa: We see connectivity as the first critical step. It means an individual now has reliable access to the internet, whether through fibre broadband, wireless or another technology. It is not the endpoint, but it is absolutely foundational.
We released an AI diffusion report recently which illustrates this with a pyramid model. At the base is the world’s population. On top of that you have energy access, then access to computing and internet devices, and finally digital and AI skills. The latest data shows that 2.2 billion people – nearly a quarter of the world’s population – remain offline. That is the group we are targeting first.
Connectivity is the necessary first step before individuals can benefit from AI tools, digital services or economic opportunities. So the 117 million figure represents people now brought into that very first layer. We track this through partner reporting on how many individuals have gained reliable, quality access.
DT: Since 2022 you have worked with a mix of partners and technologies, from fibre to fixed wireless, satellite and device manufacturers. What models have proven most effective for reaching rural and urban communities?
Nakagawa: A few stand out. One is our long-time partner Mawingu in East Africa. They have done incredible work connecting schools and agriculture cooperatives. They have reached 28 million and have now expanded into Tanzania. Also in Kenya, our partner M-KOPA has expanded into device manufacturing, producing devices in Kenya for Kenyans.It is a great example of innovation in that part of Africa.
Another is the Ilitha, She Plays programme, which uses gaming as an entry point for young people. They offer affordable access to gaming, internet and digital training. It is a new way of reaching youth and promoting inclusion.
Then there is our partner Cassava, which has scaled a pan-African model delivering high-quality internet to 30 million people across South Africa, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia. Their ability to scale across diverse markets has been key.
DT: With so many different partners, how does Microsoft evaluate new partnerships today?
Nakagawa: One lesson from recent years is that individual partnerships are great, but we also need to scale them and bring in different kinds of capital. That is one reason behind the African Development Bank partnership.
We look for partners who can blend public and private capital, work closely with governments and support communities directly. Institutions like AfDB have government relationships, community networks and the ability to scale financing in ways that individual ISPs or local partners may not be able to do alone.
DT: Let’s talk about that partnership. How will the AfDB collaboration improve the agricultural SME sector, and how will you measure impact?
Nakagawa: Agriculture is critical to employment and GDP in Africa, and SMEs are the backbone of the food system. But they face two major gaps. One is a financing gap estimated at 74 to 80 billion dollars annually. The other is limited access to digital infrastructure.
This initiative aims to address both. By providing blended finance and digital access, you can improve value-chain integration, expand access to financial markets, and use data-driven tools to improve yields, irrigation, fertiliser management and crop health.
It is a five-year programme. We will measure economic productivity, value-chain integration and farmer productivity to evaluate impact.
DT: With all these projects across the continent, what have been the biggest obstacles for you and your partners? Regulatory, commercial, infrastructure or something else?
Nakagawa: A few challenges are consistent. One is the need for accurate data on connectivity gaps. Without that, you cannot target communities effectively. We have worked through the Microsoft AI for Good Lab to improve connectivity mapping both in the US and internationally.
Another is the importance of technology-neutral policies. Because we rely on fibre, fixed wireless, satellite and mobile solutions, governments need policies that allow different technologies to be deployed based on community needs.
Digital skilling is also essential. Communities need to know how to use these tools safely and productively. And finally, sustainable funding is crucial. That is where the AfDB come in, bringing together public, private and philanthropic capital so that whole communities can benefit.
DT: Are there particular markets where you have found it easier to do business due to supportive policies or strong coordination?
Nakagawa: South Africa is a good example. I was just there for B20 discussions and met with the digital minister. The government is very focused on improving digital access, both for public services and for communities.
Kenya is another strong example. Uganda as well. In Uganda we are working with Sombha Solutions, which is expanding high-speed broadband using solar-powered fixed wireless sites. They also run digital skilling programmes with local universities, tying connectivity to real economic impact in areas like livestock management using IoT sensors and AI analytics. That multi-stakeholder approach really works.
DT: Connectivity alone does not guarantee economic impact. How is Microsoft ensuring that newly connected communities actually gain digital skills and economic opportunity?
Nakagawa: It comes down to pairing connectivity with strategic partnerships focused on skilling. We recently launched our Microsoft Elevate programme, and we collaborate with partners who specialise in digital inclusion.
A good example is our work with Mastercard through the Mastercard Made Alliance which focuses on farming connectivity. In Kenya we are supporting a “train the trainer” model for 50,000 farmers and directly upskilling 10,000 more. My colleagues recently visited a rice cooperative where farmers used to record everything on paper. Now they can upload data in real time, monitor yields and access financial services much more easily.
These are the kinds of outcomes we want to scale – connectivity combined with skills and services that directly improve incomes and financial inclusion.
DT: You have hit 117 million people now. What does phase two of Microsoft’s Africa strategy look like?
Nakagawa: Phase two is about taking the learnings from the last several years and scaling what works. We will continue focusing on connecting communities, but we will place far more emphasis on education, digital skilling and blended finance.
Connectivity is only the first step. What comes next is ensuring productive use – that people have the skills and tools needed to participate in the digital economy.
DT: How many more people do you think Microsoft can connect in the next three years?
Nakagawa: It is hard to put a number on it because technology is moving so fast. But our focus is clear. We want to continue scaling access and pairing it with the skills needed to ensure real economic impact.