ANSUT showcases digital inclusion efforts at African Digital Week 2026 in Abidjan

By:  Robert Kwaku Annor

The National Agency for the Universal Service of Telecommunications and ICT (ANSUT) has highlighted its ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing the digital divide during the sixth edition of the African Digital Week Forum held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The agency participated as a sponsor at the event, which took place on June 1, 2026, at the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire in Cocody, bringing together key stakeholders from across Africa’s digital ecosystem to discuss strategies for accelerating connectivity and digital transformation on the continent.

Representing ANSUT, Technical Advisor to the Director General, Salime Toure, took part in a panel discussion themed “Leapfrogging opportunity in Africa: Accelerating connectivity and bridging the digital divide,” where he presented the agency’s ongoing programmes and achievements.

He outlined key infrastructure developments, including the deployment of 6,632 kilometres of national optical fibre backbone, as well as rural connectivity initiatives that aim to connect 210 remote localities and eliminate digital isolation by 2025.

Toure also called on digital sector stakeholders to support the development of local digital content, emphasizing its importance in strengthening the relevance of artificial intelligence systems and ensuring that digital technologies reflect local realities and needs.

The opening ceremony of the forum was attended by Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, who also visited the ANSUT exhibition stand during the event.

ANSUT is expected to continue its engagement at the forum, including participation in the award ceremony for winners of the African Digital Week Youth Hackathon, which the agency is also sponsoring.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to expanding digital access and promoting inclusive connectivity as part of broader efforts to support Africa’s digital transformation agenda.