Microsoft Connects 117 Million People Across Africa, Launches Collaboration with African Development Bank

Microsoft has announced a major milestone in its global connectivity agenda, confirming that it has now provided internet access to over 117 million people across Africa, exceeding its 2025 target.

The announcement was made during the B20 South Africa Summit, where the company also unveiled a landmark collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to launch a pan-African blended finance facility that will unlock capital and digital tools for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector.

During the Summit, Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized that connectivity remains the foundation for AI adoption and inclusive digital participation. “Without access to the internet, the promise of technology remains out of reach. To meaningfully participate in this moment of transformation, we must also empower people with the skills to use these digital tools,” she added.

Microsoft first committed in 2022 to deepen its connectivity investments in Africa by expanding access to the internet, digital literacy, and AI-readiness. Surpassing the 117 million mark is the result of multi-layered partnerships with Internet Service Providers, middle-mile infrastructure providers, hardware manufacturers, local innovators, and multilateral organizations. This model has allowed Microsoft to reach underserved communities sustainably, lowering infrastructure costs and supporting the growth of local digital ecosystems.

The impact of this work is visible across the continent. In rural Kenya, reliable connectivity delivered by Mawingu, Microsoft’s longest-standing connectivity partner in East Africa has enabled clinics in Laikipia County to use video conferencing to consult specialists in Nairobi, improving patient outcomes in remote areas where medical expertise is scarce.

In partnership with Mastercard’s MADE Alliance, Mawingu is also connecting farmer cooperatives and supporting digital skilling programs that will reach over 50,000 farmers, expanding market access and improving yields through data-driven agriculture. Across South Africa, Microsoft is working with partners such as Ilitha, Liquid, Cisco, and local community organizations to expand broadband and digital skills as well. Through a partnership with M-KOPA, Microsoft has also supported more than six million people in accessing connected devices through affordable pay-as-you-go models.

With the connectivity milestone achieved, Microsoft is now turning toward the next frontier of pairing digital access with AI-enabled solutions that drive economic development, job creation, and climate resilience. Nakagawa highlighted that the goal is to ensure Africa is not left behind as AI reshapes the global economy. “We are turning access into impact, and connectivity into transformation,” she said.

In its new collaboration with the African Development Bank, Microsoft also announced that the partnership will establish a pan-African financing facility designed to support agriculture SMEs through a unique blend of financial investment and digital ecosystem support.

The new facility will mobilize large-scale agricultural investment over five years and equip SMEs with the digital tools and AI-enabled solutions they need to scale efficiently. By embedding digital readiness into financial models, the initiative aims to transform capital into long-term productivity gains and serve as a blueprint for how technology and finance can accelerate agricultural modernization across the continent. The partnership leverages AfDB’s financial leadership and Microsoft’s digital ecosystem capabilities to create a new model for sustainable, tech-enabled agricultural growth.

“The challenges we face are immense, but so is our capacity to act. Our connectivity milestone in Africa and the launch of the Agri-SME Facility are proof of what is possible when technology and finance move together. No single company can close the digital divide or unlock AI opportunity alone. But together, we can turn access into impact and ambition into action,” concluded Nakagawa.

Microsoft invites partners across sectors to join in scaling these efforts and accelerating Africa’s digital and economic transformation.

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