Enabling connectivity

Connecting everyone to digital services, particularly in Africa, is a significant challenge for many Africans in rural areas. Expanding rural networks can often be more challenging and offer a lower return on investment due to lower population densities. New approaches, partnerships and a blend of technologies will help us overcome some of these barriers and deliver universal coverage. To drive digital inclusion to the hardest-to-connect communities, Vodacom has made good progress increasing 4G population coverage to an additional 80 million people in sub-Saharan Africa (as part of the UN Partner2Connect digital coalition since March 2022). We are also increasing investment in rural areas, helping to overcome barriers to connectivity and digitisation.

Examples of how we are contributing to the ambitions and targets of SDG 9