China’s involvement in the digital transformation of Africa in recent years has been significant, largely through initiatives like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has facilitated substantial investments by Chinese companies in digital infrastructure across the continent.
A key player in this framework is Huawei, which has played a crucial role in developing telecommunications infrastructure in Africa, including wireless sites and extensive fiber optic networks. This has greatly improved connectivity for millions of people on the continent.
The digital transformation has brought numerous benefits, including enabling African economies to more actively participate in the global digital economy and boosting local economies.
One example of the impact of China’s involvement is the National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) project in Kenya. Huawei’s extensive fiber network in Kenya has played a vital role in driving the country’s digital transformation and economic growth. Since beginning the project, the company has laid thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic cables, connecting all 47 counties and 290 sub-counties in the country. This has greatly improved communication and access to government services.
The NOFBI project, implemented by the Kenyan government with financial assistance from China, aims to strengthen the telecommunications infrastructure throughout the country and promote digitization.
The project was implemented in phases, with the backbone optical fiber reaching 4,300 km in the first phase, followed by the construction of 2,100 km in the second phase, and 2,500 km in the third phase. By 2019, a total of 8,900 km of fiber network had been completed, covering all regions of Kenya. More than 6,000 government offices or buildings now use this network, supporting initiatives focused on developing high-tech industries aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals.
Huawei’s networking solutions cater to state agencies, corporations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), contributing to the growth of Kenya’s digital economy. The company’s advanced technologies are being deployed in sectors such as education, health, and security, among others, to enhance interactions and improve service delivery.
Huawei’s fiber infrastructure in Kenya has played a significant role in facilitating essential services, including the revolutionary mobile money transfer system M-Pesa, as well as the rollout of 5G technologies and high-speed internet services to support the digital economy.
The significance of the NOFBI project to Kenya cannot be overstated. Firstly, the project has successfully achieved its main goal of providing network connectivity across the entire country, even in remote areas. Through an 8,900 km land fiber network, major towns and villages are now interconnected, greatly improving communication and internet access. This, in turn, has enabled more people to access digital services, leading to increased economic development. Reliable communication infrastructure plays a critical role in attracting investment, promoting business, and creating jobs, and the NOFBI project has opened up new business opportunities in Kenya.
Another major benefit of the NOFBI project is the support it has provided for the digital transformation of various industries. By providing faster and more stable internet solutions, the project has helped drive the transformation of industries such as online education, e-government, and e-commerce, which have gained significant popularity and acceptance in recent years.
The achievements of the NOFBI project have garnered recognition from end users. During the Huawei Eco-Connect Conference 2023 – Sub-Saharan Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa in early July 2023, Mohammed Jabane, Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications & Digital Economy of Kenya, delivered a keynote speech titled “Huawei Helps Kenya’s Economy Take-off.”
In his address, he highlighted Kenya’s digital transformation journey and praised the cooperation between Huawei, the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy, and the ICT Authority in building the national backbone network and providing last-mile coverage. He emphasized the project’s role in solving issues such as insufficient coverage, damaged cables, lack of redundancy in certain areas, and limited access networks.
Digital Silk Road
In addition to the fiber infrastructure, Huawei has implemented various programs in Kenya to promote job creation and skills development. Training programs like “Seeds for the Future” equip young Kenyans with ICT skills, ensuring a skilled workforce that is ready for the digital market. Through these programs and other investments, Huawei has played a significant role in creating thousands of jobs, and contributing to economic growth and development in Kenya.
The Huawei fiber network in Kenya stands out in East Africa due to its extensive scale and impact. With its ability to enhance connectivity, facilitate key services, create jobs, and support digital transformation, the NOFBI project has emerged as a major catalyst for economic growth.
Recognizing the importance of providing affordable ICT access to the entire country, President William Ruto’s administration has prioritized the NOFBI program and proposed a plan to build a Digital Superhighway that will cover the entire country. China has launched the Digital Silk Road (DSR) as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is, therefore, crucial in this regard.
The goal of DSR is to improve digital connectivity and economic cooperation between China and participating countries, especially in Africa. It focuses on developing digital infrastructure like e-commerce, smart cities, and telecommunications, utilizing technologies such as 5G, big data, and artificial intelligence.
Within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework, the DSR aims to foster mutually beneficial collaboration between China and African nations. The Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024) highlights the importance of expanding e-commerce and digital economy initiatives, which are crucial for Africa’s socio-economic progress. Chinese companies like Huawei are actively engaged in constructing data centers and 5G networks across Africa, addressing the continent’s increasing data demands. This presents opportunities for technological advancement in Africa.
The writer is a multimedia journalist at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
