The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is actively working towards establishing new broadband goals for the region by 2030.
Relevant ministers, national regulatory bodies, policymakers, and experts participated in a recent workshop in Mbabane, Eswatini, alongside delegations from international organisations such as the International Telecommunications Union. The gathering aimed to set internet coverage standards within SADC, promote affordable internet access, enhance digital inclusion, and create systems for monitoring progress and gathering insights.
SADC consists of 16 member states, which include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The two-day event, the SADC Broadband Development and Targets 2030 Workshop wrapped up recently. Savannah Maziya, the Eswatini minister of information and communications technology, opened the discussions, emphasising the critical role of broadband in modern economies. “Effective deployment demands intentional policy, consistent investment, and data-driven actions. We cannot improve what we fail to measure,” Maziya stated.
She highlighted the importance of well-defined national broadband policies, which signal intent, foster coordinated efforts, and provide the regulatory clarity necessary for investors and service providers. Maziya stressed the need for member states to continually refine their national frameworks to enhance inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation.
Brian Mwansa, the acting executive secretary of the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa, also addressed attendees, underscoring the key transformative impact of broadband on economic growth, human capital development, public service delivery, and social inclusion. “By connecting individuals and businesses to essential information and services, broadband opens doors to innovation, education, healthcare access, and an overall improved quality of life,” Mwansa noted.
