AI News Monitor

Safaricom, East Africa’s largest telecommunications provider, unveiled plans on Monday to invest more than $500 million in artificial intelligence infrastructure over the next three years, a move aimed at accelerating the region’s digital transformation and positioning it as a leader in AI innovation.

The ambitious initiative, announced at the Connected Africa Summit 2025, will fund next-generation data centers, edge computing networks, and AI-powered platforms designed to bolster sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. Cynthia Kropac, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, described the investment as a “blueprint for powering intelligent digital services” across the continent.

“This is more than a connectivity project—it’s about building an inclusive, scalable digital economy,” Kropac said in her keynote address. “AI will be the engine that drives Africa’s next phase of growth.”

East Africa, already the continent’s fastest-growing economic region, is rapidly embracing AI tools, though its ecosystem remains in early stages. Safaricom has taken steps to cultivate local expertise, training over 5,000 employees in AI fundamentals as part of its shift from technology consumer to innovation enabler.

The investment will also support skills development for African engineers and entrepreneurs, with a focus on homegrown solutions—such as multilingual education tools, climate-smart agriculture, and mobile health diagnostics—tailored to the region’s needs. Kropac emphasized the importance of regulatory collaboration, citing the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy as a critical framework for responsible development.

“Africa has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define its own AI trajectory,” she said. “Just as mobile leapfrogged landlines, AI can help us leap toward a smarter future.”

The announcement reinforces Safaricom’s role as a key driver of Africa’s digital economy, following its pioneering mobile money service, M-Pesa. With AI adoption accelerating globally, the company’s latest bet signals a strategic push to ensure the continent is not just a participant but a shaper of the technology’s future.