Jean-Michel HUET’s new book, “Africa 4.0 – The digital revolution”: a (…)

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par Desk Africapresse.Paris (APP)

@africa_presse

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Since the early 2000s, Africa has surprised the world with its rapid adoption of digital technologies. In a context where many observers were still highlighting the continent's structural challenges – such as limited access to electricity or drinking water – the penetration of the Internet and mobile phones has evolved exponentially. Jean-Michel Huet contextualizes this progression by recalling that, according to the most recent data, the continent now has more than 570 million mobile phone users. This expansion is accompanied by strong growth in e-commerce, mobile payment solutions and digital service platforms.

This rapid adoption is no accident. The author demonstrates that the youth of the African population – with a median age of less than 20 years – is a key factor in this transition. Young Africans, born in the digital age, appropriate new technologies with remarkable ease, creating massive demand for digital services. This demographic dynamic, coupled with foreign investment in technological infrastructure, has enabled Africa to become one of the most dynamic digital markets in the world.

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Technological catalysts

The book details the technologies that enable this digital revolution, emphasizing their differentiated impact depending on the region of the continent. Among them, the growing coverage of telecom networks, notablyhas 4G and 5G, is a major advance. Jean-Michel Huet highlights concrete cases: the Kenyafor example, stood out for the early integration of m-payment through platforms like M-Pesa, radically transforming access to financial services.

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Another key technology enabler is the rise of digital infrastructure. New submarine cables such as 2Africa – colossal project initiated by Facebook and other partners – strengthen the continent’s connectivity with the rest of the world. These undersea cables, combined with the proliferation of local data centers, reduce the costs of accessing the Internet while increasing its reliability. Jean-Michel Huet insists on the crucial role of these investments, often initiated by foreign players but now taken over by African companies.

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Facilitating actors

In this chapter, the author dissects the roles of the multiple stakeholders in this digital revolution. Governments, firstly, have started to adopt digital-focused national strategies. Rwanda, often cited as an example, has placed technology at the heart of its economic development through the Smart Rwanda Master Plan program. Private companies, local and international, also act as drivers of change. Jean-Michel Huet describes how start-ups like Andela or Jumia have demonstrated that Africa could not only consume digital solutions, but also produce them.

The author does not fail to emphasize the importance of international organizations and donors. The World Bank, the African Union and the United Nations actively support projects to bridge the digital divide. It also highlights the role of African diasporas, who play a dual role: that of investors and ambassadors of African technology abroad.

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Growing uses

One of the strengths of the work lies in its detailed description of digital uses in Africa. Jean-Michel Huet explores how digital technology is transforming vital sectors such as health, education and agriculture. For example, in e-health, initiatives such as Zipline use drones to deliver medicines and vaccines to remote areas. In education, platforms like Eneza Education in Kenya allow millions of children to access educational content at lower cost via their mobile phones.

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Agriculture, which employs a large part of the African population, also benefits from this transformation. Farmers can now use apps to access accurate weather forecasts, obtain credit or even sell their products on digital platforms. The author highlights here a fundamental break: technology is no longer reserved for urban areas. Thanks to its democratization, even rural regions participate in this revolution.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The book devotes an entire chapter to the catalytic effect of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 on African digital transformation. Jean-Michel Huet describes how the crisis has accelerated the adoption of digital services in all areas. Companies, for example, quickly adopted teleworking, a previously marginal practice. Public services have also followed this trend, setting up platforms for tax declaration or registration for social programs.

This digital shift has been accompanied by an explosion in mobile payments. According to the author, the pandemic has contributed to m-payment an essential toolwith transactions reaching billions of dollars every month. The crisis has thus revealed the capacity of African societies to adapt quickly, while highlighting the gaps that remain to be filled, particularly in terms of universal access to technologies.

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Towards digital acceleration

For Jean-Michel Huet, Africa is at the dawn of a new phase of its digital revolution. Investments in artificial intelligence, blockchains and cybersecurity mark a transition to even more advanced technologies. The author insists that the continent must not only adopt these innovations, but also become an active producer of them.

The future, according to the author, lies in education and training. He welcomes initiatives aimed at training young Africans for digital careers, such as coding schools financed by Google or Microsoft. These training courses, although still insufficient in the face of demand, represent hope for lasting transformation.

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A reference work

“Africa 4.0 – The digital revolution” is much more than a simple inventory. Jean-Michel Huet manages to offer a nuanced vision, where the successes do not mask the challenges. The work stands out for its analytical rigor, but also for the wealth of concrete examples. Drawing on reliable data and varied testimonies, it offers essential reading for decision-makers, investors and researchers.

In conclusion, this book is a real invitation to seize the opportunities offered by digital Africa. With optimism and pragmatism, Jean-Michel Huet reminds us that the continent is not only a promising market, but also a key player in global digital transformation.

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Agenda Paris, Tuesday 11/26/24 – Nine Ambassadors will participate in the XV^e CAAPdedicated to rail networks in Africa. LAST PLACES AVAILABLE…

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