COUNTRY FOCUS: ANGOLA
Angola is a shining example of digital
transformation in a rapidly changing continent.
Moving away from a dependency on oil
production, the country is emerging as a leader
in telecommunications. With the South Atlantic
Cable System set to be completed in mid-2018
and centred in Angola, the first direct link
between Africa and South America will be
created. António Nunes, CEO, Angola Cables,
tells us this represents a significant shift for the
relationship between Africa and the Americas in
terms of connectivity and collaboration.
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Angola: a rising
force in global ICT
I
n 1994, there were more telephone
lines in New York City than in all of
Africa. Two decades later, Africa has
digitally transformed itself with mobile data
traffic expected to grow twelvefold on the
continent over the next five years.
Today, the continent is teeming with
companies digitally connecting cities,
countries and continents to the global
economy and research communities. For
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),
some of them are beginning to leapfrog
comparable countries in other parts of
the world in terms of telecommunications
advancement, with Angola as a standout
example of progress in the region.
www.intelligentcio.com
“
THIS WILL CREATE
A ‘CONTINENTAL
SHIFT’ IN TERMS
OF INTERNET
ACCESS TO AND
FROM AFRICA,
BYPASSING
EUROPE.
Traditionally seen as an oil-producing
nation, Angola is emerging as a
telecommunications leader as part of
diversifying its economy. Considered the
third largest economy in SSA, Angola’s GDP
growth is expected to be over 3% in 2018
as it seeks to diversify its economy.
Part of this can be attributable to the
development of local industries, agriculture
and strengthening of entrepreneurship skills to
foster inclusive growth. Last year, democratic
elections also saw President João Gonçalves
Lourenço voted into office, Angola’s first
change of president in 38 years; a promising
development as part of improving the
economic prospects of the country.
INTELLIGENTCIO
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