The ministers of the four countries discussed the impact of technology on economic and social development.
On the opening day of the sixth edition of ANGOTIC 2026, held in Luanda under the theme “Digital Transformation – Impact on Economic and Social Development”, the ministers responsible for communications from Angola, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa argued that accelerating the digitalisation of African economies requires robust infrastructure and sustained investment in human capital.
Angola’s Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Mário Oliveira, stressed that there is little value in creating applications without a solid infrastructure foundation. He highlighted the country’s investment in fibre-optic networks and its Space Programme, as well as the training of 130 young professionals to operate space communications services.
Namibia’s representative shared the challenges faced by a vast and sparsely populated country, where providing connectivity to remote communities remains both costly and difficult. She called for a balanced regulatory framework capable of protecting citizens and ensuring cybersecurity without stifling innovation among young entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, José Kabangu, emphasised the need to install more than 50,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable by 2030. He also announced the relocation of the headquarters of the African Telecommunications Union to Kinshasa and revealed the country’s candidacy for a seat on the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
South Africa presented the example of its SA Connect programme, which focuses on socioeconomic inclusion and the removal of geographical barriers. The South African minister explained that the country’s economy, being relatively small and open, is highly exposed to global fluctuations and therefore depends on technology as a key driver of competitiveness.
South Africa’s digital transformation has already moved beyond manual and traditional processes, operating through digital payments, data-sharing frameworks and a single digital identity system. The social impact is already visible: through fifth-generation (5G) technology and television-based educational platforms, children from disadvantaged communities can now access digital libraries safely from home, reducing the need for potentially dangerous travel at night.
At the macroeconomic level, the digital ecosystem has reduced capital financing and networking costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), opening the door to distant markets and new business opportunities.
Source: Economia & Mercado
