Organized by Ivory Coast’s Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority (ARTCI), the conference aimed to establish a shared vision on several key issues, including personal data governance, cybersecurity, and the regulation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

At the conclusion of the discussions, participants adopted a declaration calling on African governments to treat data protection as a strategic pillar of digital sovereignty. Regulators emphasized that the issue now goes beyond administrative or legal considerations and should be integrated into the continent’s broader digital development agenda.

Key recommendations include strengthening the capacities of national data protection authorities, enhancing cooperation among African countries, and introducing stricter compliance requirements for both public institutions and private-sector organizations.

Participants also highlighted the need to modernize regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the rapid growth of digital financial services, biometric technologies, international platforms, and AI-driven applications.

This initiative comes at a time when many African countries are accelerating their digital transformation through the deployment of e-government services, electronic payment solutions, and digital identity systems. However, regulators warned that this rapid digitalization also increases exposure to cyberattacks, misuse of personal data, and growing dependence on foreign technology platforms.

Beyond regulatory concerns, African governments are also focused on securing the long-term growth of the continent’s digital economy. According to estimates from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa’s digital economy could reach $721 billion by 2050 if investments and digitalization efforts continue at scale.

In this context, data protection authorities now view digital trust and the security of personal information as essential foundations for the expansion of e-commerce, digital financial services, and public digital platforms across Africa.

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In 2025, the construction of smart highways in China has clearly moved beyond its initial phase, which prioritized “cutting-edge technologies” and technological accumulation. The sector has now entered a new stage of large-scale development focused on pragmatic implementation, system integration, and value creation. Industry experts widely agree that this marks a decisive turning point—from pilot demonstrations to deep integration and widespread application.

1. A Rational Transition: From Technology Stacking to Value Creation

The current phase of development is defined by three fundamental transformations.

Deep integration as the core technological theme.
The application of technology is shifting from isolated devices or standalone systems toward the deep integration of multiple systems, including perception, communication, computing, and energy. The goal is to achieve efficient synergy across perception, decision-making, and control. Technological architectures are also evolving, moving from basic vehicle–road coordination toward an integrated vehicle–road–cloud framework.

Large-scale collaborative projects as a defining feature.
Interprovincial and network-wide collaborative projects are increasing significantly. These initiatives focus on establishing comprehensive control systems that break away from fragmented governance models based on isolated road sections and data silos.

Value-driven efficiency as an industry consensus.
The industry has decisively reoriented its priorities, shifting away from the pursuit of high-end and complex equipment toward tangible value creation for operators. Key objectives now include improving traffic flow, reducing operation and maintenance costs, and enhancing user experience. Integrated development concepts such as “transportation + energy” and “transportation + digital economy” are becoming widely adopted.

At the same time, disruptive technologies—particularly large AI language models—are reshaping the logic of software systems and digital infrastructure. The year 2026 will be critical in validating the real-world effectiveness of these applications. Meanwhile, hardware choices remain diverse, reflecting a landscape akin to “a hundred schools of thought,” guided by the principle of local adaptation and efficiency first.

2. Key Challenges: Cybersecurity and Governance Adaptation

Amid rapid progress, the sector faces two major challenges.

Urgent cybersecurity gaps.
As road networks become increasingly intelligent and interconnected, traditional fragmented and isolated cybersecurity protection models have proven inadequate. Establishing a proactive, AI-driven, network-wide collaborative defense system—shifting from passive emergency response to active early warning—has become essential to ensuring the stable operation of smart highway networks.

Misalignment between management mechanisms and technological innovation.
Many experts emphasize that the primary bottleneck for smart highways is not technology itself, but the deep adaptation of management processes, institutional frameworks, and governance mechanisms. Digital transformation is fundamentally a form of systemic management innovation. Without strong institutional support, even the most advanced technologies struggle to translate into real operational efficiency.

3. Future Outlook: Deeper Applications and Ecosystem Expansion

Over the next two years, smart highways will continue to evolve along the trajectory set in 2025, with progress expected across several dimensions.

At the technological level, the integration of communication technologies and large AI models will accelerate, enabling more precise road network perception, smarter decision-making, and faster responses. Perception and control models will increasingly shift toward real-time paradigms based on edge computing and localized control.

At the application level, key scenarios will be deployed at scale. Truck platooning, for instance, will transition from pilot projects to standardized operations, while intelligent toll stations and free-flow tolling models are set to fundamentally reshape existing toll systems. Applications will increasingly emphasize “small scenarios, big services” to address specific operational challenges.

At the enterprise and ecosystem level, a diversified business model combining core services and value-added services will gradually take shape, with continuous monetization of data assets. The industry is expected to build a more integrated and collaborative ecosystem spanning the entire value chain—from technology and construction to operations and services.

In summary, 2025 stands as a pivotal year for the development of smart highways in China, marking a shift toward authenticity and a renewed focus on value creation. The industry is increasingly centered on solving real-world problems and delivering measurable benefits. While challenges such as cybersecurity and institutional adaptation remain, the sector is steadily advancing toward its ultimate goal: enhancing managerial efficiency, enriching traveler experiences, and increasing operator revenues, thereby entering a new phase of large-scale, high-quality development.

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With only 27% of the Sub-Saharan African population accessing mobile Internet in 2023, the high cost of smartphones remains one of the main barriers to connectivity. To address this challenge, the GSM Association (GSMA) and six major African operators, including Orange, have joined forces to democratize access to smartphones across the continent.

The announcement was made on October 21 during the Mobile World Congress Africa 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. At the event, industry leaders unveiled a landmark agreement establishing a minimum technical standard for quality 4G smartphones priced between $30 and $40. These devices must deliver a smooth and reliable user experience, with balanced specifications for memory, battery life, display, and camera.

A Collective Industrial Project to Drive Down Prices

According to the GSMA, the physical components of a smartphone (processor, memory, battery, display, etc.) account for up to 70% of its total cost. Reducing the price without compromising quality therefore requires a collective approach. The key lies in mass production and standardization: by consolidating orders around a common model, suppliers can lower their prices thanks to larger production volumes.

“The objective of the GSMA standard is to aggregate demand, reassure manufacturers, and stimulate large-scale production at a lower cost,” a representative of the organization explained.

Two Strategic Levers: Local Production and Reduced Taxation

To bring this vision to life, the GSMA is focusing on two main strategies. First, it aims to work with equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to design affordable 4G models that meet the agreed-upon requirements. Second, it urges African governments to remove taxes on entry-level smartphones priced under $100.

South Africa provides a telling example: in March 2025, the country scrapped excise duties on phones costing less than 2,500 rand ($136) to reduce the financial barrier for low-income households. In many countries, VAT and import dutiescan increase device prices by more than 30%, directly hindering digital inclusion.

“Access to a smartphone is not a luxury—it is a vital gateway to essential services, education, and economic opportunities,” stressed Vivek Badrinath, GSMA CEO.

A $40 Smartphone Could Bring 20 Million New Users Online

Today, mobile coverage in Africa reaches 86% for 3G, 71% for 4G, and 11% for 5G, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yet only 52% of Africans are actually connected. The main obstacle is no longer coverage but device affordability.

GSMA Intelligence estimates that a $40 smartphone could enable 20 million additional people in Sub-Saharan Africa to access mobile Internet, while a $30 model could bring connectivity to up to 50 million new users.

For a smartphone to be considered affordable, its price should not exceed 15–20% of the average monthly income. However, according to the World Bank, in low- and middle-income countries the cost of an entry-level smartphone equals 18% of the monthly income of an average adult, and up to 73% for the poorest 40% of households.

Making Smartphones Affordable—and Durable

Lowering prices alone is not enough. To achieve real impact, several levers must be activated: financing, user support, and maintenance. Operators are exploring installment payment plans and micro-credit solutions tailored to irregular incomes, with transparent terms and insurance against device failure.

Developing a local repair ecosystem and ensuring the availability of spare parts are also essential to prolong device lifespans and reduce electronic waste.

At the same time, digital skills remain a crucial pillar. Many citizens still perceive smartphones as luxury items, largely because they are unfamiliar with their full potential. Training users on basic functionalities can transform the device into a true tool for education, work, and access to public services.

Toward an African Model of Digital Inclusion

By combining industrial cooperation, fiscal incentives, and user-support programs, this initiative represents a major step toward equitable digital access across the continent. For operators, democratizing smartphones expands the market for data services; for governments, it is an opportunity to accelerate digital transformation and economic inclusion.

Through this alliance, the GSMA and its partners send a strong message: connecting Africa now depends on making smartphones accessible to all—the gateway to the 21st-century digital economy.

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