NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28 – Safaricom has announced a $500 million (Sh66 billion) investment to build and expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across East Africa over the next three years.
The telco says the initiative is set to revolutionize digital connectivity and empower businesses, both large and small, with access to AI technology.
Speaking during the Connected Africa Summit in Nairobi, Cynthia Kropac, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, lauded the move as a major step in positioning East Africa as a digital powerhouse.
“This investment will transcend traditional connectivity,” Kropac said.
“It will power advanced digital services, fuel innovation across all sectors of the economy, and significantly boost the region’s productivity.”
She emphasized that Africa must seize the opportunity to shape its own AI future rather than remain a passive consumer of technologies developed in the West and Asia.
Safaricom emphasized Africa’s unique opportunity to shape its own AI destiny, noting that the company has already trained 5,000 employees in AI fundamentals as part of efforts to build an intelligent economy and empower the region to develop its own AI frameworks and lead its digital transformation.
As part of its long-term strategy, Safaricom aims to provide intelligent, seamless, and inclusive digital experiences across the continent.
The investment will include infrastructure upgrades, partnerships with local and global tech firms, and skills development to drive innovation in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education.
Safaricom seeks to leverage the rapid technological adoption across the continent to roll out its agenda.
