NEWS
Omdia finds over 80 % of Africa’ s workforce in informal sector drives need for innovative connectivity approaches
not covered or insufficiently covered by formal arrangements. It notes that the informal economy often thrives in contexts of high unemployment, underemployment, poverty, gender inequality and precarious work.
This scale presents significant hurdles for Digital Transformation efforts by both service providers and government agencies. Traditional broadband deployment and payment models often fail to address the unique needs and circumstances of informal sector workers and businesses. However, the research reveals how mobile broadband and prepaid fibre solutions are gaining ground as viable connectivity options in this complex market landscape.
Omdia has found that the informal economy accounts for more than 80 % of Africa’ s workforce, creating significant broadband challenges and opportunities, according to the newly released Broadband and the Informal Economy in Africa report.
The report defines the informal economy as all economic activities by workers and economic units that are, in law or in practice,
“ Africa’ s informal economy represents both a challenge and an opportunity for broadband expansion,” said Thecla Mbongue, Principal Analyst, Omdia.“ Understanding the specific connectivity requirements and payment preferences of this demographic is essential for successful digital inclusion.”
As digital services become increasingly essential for economic participation, bridging the connectivity gap in Africa’ s informal economy will be crucial for inclusive growth and development across the continent.
Businesses warned rapid cyber compliance mandates are reshaping enterprise security operations
Businesses are facing growing pressure to strengthen cybersecurity operations as regulators introduce stricter patching deadlines, accelerated breach reporting requirements and tougher compliance expectations.
According to Avinash Gupta, Head of COE( Centre of Excellence), In2IT Technologies, cybersecurity compliance is rapidly evolving from an administrative requirement into a core component of enterprise cyber-resilience strategies.
Gupta said organisations can no longer afford to delay vulnerability remediation or treat compliance as a separate governance exercise as threat actors increasingly exploit weaknesses within hours of disclosure.
“ Rapid patching is no longer optional; it is a regulated expectation,” said Gupta. processes and faster incident reporting workflows to meet evolving regulatory demands.
He added that stricter compliance requirements are also increasing demand for external IT consulting expertise as businesses struggle to interpret and implement complex cybersecurity frameworks across multiple regions and industries.
The warning comes as governments and regulators tighten cybersecurity mandates across sectors supporting critical infrastructure, including healthcare, utilities, telecommunications and transport systems.
Gupta said organisations are being forced to adopt structured patch management programmes, automated deployment
According to Gupta, organisations that integrate compliance into
Avinash Gupta, Head of COE( Centre of Excellence), In2IT Technologies
broader cyber-resilience strategies will be better positioned to strengthen operational stability, reduce breach exposure and maintain stakeholder trust in an increasingly regulated digital environment. www. intelligentcio. com
INTELLIGENT CIO AFRICA
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