6 technology trends that are shaping Africa as we head into 2025 – News24
Wednesday, 16 October
1h ago
Gone are the days when Africa was termed the “dark continent”, associated with crippling issues like illiteracy, a high burden of disease, and information gaps. In 2024, Africa is beaming with informed citizens, better infrastructure, and thriving economies, says AvaTrade, secure brokers in the industry, with seven regulations across six continents. Issues such as unemployment numbers are dwindling as the internet continues to educate and inform on financial matters. With access to technology, people can learn what forex trading is, invest extensively, and enjoy improved living standards.
The good news is that the situation will continue to improve in 2025. You can expect tech to usher Africa into an age of prosperity and uncapped economic growth. Here are some technological trends that are likely to reshape this wonderful continent and its people:
5G is accelerating digital transformation in Africa at an incredible speed. Its arrival has led to the emergence of smart cities. Today, the Mother Continent is home to many smart cities, from Nairobi and Cape Town to Abuja and Algiers. These places use 5G to monitor vital aspects such as traffic, energy consumption, and air use. This tech enables cities to improve infrastructure and optimize decision-making thanks to real-time, actionable data.
But 5G isn’t shaping the future of modern cities alone. It is also helping Africa bridge the digital divide by ensuring people in underserved areas have access to high-speed internet. Its effect is dramatically increased by enhanced mobile penetration experienced in most African regions, including rural towns and villages. In South Africa alone, over 41% of the population had access to 5G by 2023, and the numbers have spiked considerably since then.
Hundreds of e-commerce stores are available in Africa today. Their proliferation and wide acceptance have enabled small and medium enterprises to reach wider audiences, increase sales, and boost returns. By helping businesses grow and earn more revenue, e-commerce has created more job opportunities, improved the living standard for many Africans, and stimulated economic growth in many parts of the region.
E-commerce has also allowed people in different locations to access important goods and services, especially in rural areas. Today, people in the most secluded corners of the continent can order products such as food and medicine from online stores without a problem. Moreover, the increasing number of online shoppers has fuelled the development of more local startups as business-minded folk try to bridge the gap between supply and demand.
The fintech sector is transforming industry at an incredible pace. In 2024, thousands of fintech companies are seamlessly helping African citizens without bank accounts to access crucial financial services. These companies include Safaricom MPESA, MTN, and PalmPay. Such products allow underserved populations ample opportunity to manage their finances without any fuss. Now, everyone can access vital savings, insurance, and loan programmes without the need for a bank account.
Fintech is also playing a significant role in the growth of businesses all over the continent. Different fintech service providers now allow budding ventures to access funding and credit whenever necessary. As businesses thrive with the help of fintech companies, the entire region enjoys enhanced economic development, better infrastructure, more jobs, and many other perks.
The age of manual labour and conventional farming practices is gradually phasing out in Africa. As the continent marches into 2025, more farmers are embracing digital agriculture. Currently, countless service farms are employing next-generation technologies such as precision farming, soil health sensors, and spraying drones. Others have gone the extra mile and are now using advanced data collection and analysis tools to increase agricultural output.
There are many reasons why a farmer should embrace digital agriculture and leave the conventional life behind. They can start as soon as today and get access to digital tools that will help optimize resource usage where elements such water, pesticides, and fertilizer are involved. If they play their cards well and invest extensively, they’ll have unlimited access to real-time data to help make informed decisions and enhance a farm’s performance in the long run.
Healthcare tech is changing Africa for the better. Firstly, it’s helping this continent take great strides in health literacy. A few decades ago, most Africans had little to no access to health information. Many practitioners had access to limited – and, worse, inaccurate – information, which led to issues such as inaccurate diagnoses and poor treatment.
Luckily, things are significantly different in the digital era. Advancements in healthcare tech have led to innovations that are slowly but surely facilitating the resolution of many long-standing issues. For instance, telemedicine and remote care are helping Africans in remote, underserved regions access professional healthcare services with the tap of a button. Moreover, doctors and other stakeholders can now improve service delivery through aspects such as electronic health records and predictive modelling.
Education has equipped millions of individuals in Africa with indispensable knowledge and skills, and contributed immensely to economic growth. Education has also played a major role in reducing poverty levels, since educated individuals are more likely to secure employment and improve their living standards.
With that in mind, remote learning is helping tens of thousands of Africans secure their future through quality education. Since the pandemic, many institutions on this continent have striven to offer seamless digital learning products and solutions to learners remotely. This aspect has had significant impact on rural areas, where bricks-and-mortar institutions are absent.
Numerous technological aspects are set to reshape the African landscape in 2025, from healthcare tech to 5G and fintech. As a citizen of Africa, you should take this golden opportunity presented by the digital age to better your life and chase your dreams. For instance, if you are an investment enthusiast, you can use high-speed internet to learn the fundamentals of investing in gold and start your journey to securing financial freedom.
Anyone who ignores these trends risk issues such as economic disparity, loss of competitive edge, and lack of vital skills. Stay aware and informed, and pave your way to a successful 2025.
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by AvaTrade.
10 Oct
Free to listen for subscribers
News24’s October audiobook that’s free to listen to for subscribers is My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced by Pamela Power.
Indulge in the finer things
News24’s new magazine is curated for those who understand luxury and want to celebrate the richness of life.
Can you ace them all?
Today’s crossword, wordflower, sudoku and weekly news quiz
Friday Briefing – weekly
Insight and analysis on the big political story of the week, plus a roundup of top columns and reader favourites.
02 Oct
02 Oct
04 Sep
21 Aug
16 Aug
07 Aug
Use your voice to deepen the dialogue and engage with stories of courage, endurance, community, triumph, and the pursuit of truth in SA.
10 Oct
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11 Oct
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source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
1h ago
Gone are the days when Africa was termed the “dark continent”, associated with crippling issues like illiteracy, a high burden of disease, and information gaps. In 2024, Africa is beaming with informed citizens, better infrastructure, and thriving economies, says AvaTrade, secure brokers in the industry, with seven regulations across six continents. Issues such as unemployment numbers are dwindling as the internet continues to educate and inform on financial matters. With access to technology, people can learn what forex trading is, invest extensively, and enjoy improved living standards.
The good news is that the situation will continue to improve in 2025. You can expect tech to usher Africa into an age of prosperity and uncapped economic growth. Here are some technological trends that are likely to reshape this wonderful continent and its people:
5G is accelerating digital transformation in Africa at an incredible speed. Its arrival has led to the emergence of smart cities. Today, the Mother Continent is home to many smart cities, from Nairobi and Cape Town to Abuja and Algiers. These places use 5G to monitor vital aspects such as traffic, energy consumption, and air use. This tech enables cities to improve infrastructure and optimize decision-making thanks to real-time, actionable data.
But 5G isn’t shaping the future of modern cities alone. It is also helping Africa bridge the digital divide by ensuring people in underserved areas have access to high-speed internet. Its effect is dramatically increased by enhanced mobile penetration experienced in most African regions, including rural towns and villages. In South Africa alone, over 41% of the population had access to 5G by 2023, and the numbers have spiked considerably since then.
Hundreds of e-commerce stores are available in Africa today. Their proliferation and wide acceptance have enabled small and medium enterprises to reach wider audiences, increase sales, and boost returns. By helping businesses grow and earn more revenue, e-commerce has created more job opportunities, improved the living standard for many Africans, and stimulated economic growth in many parts of the region.
E-commerce has also allowed people in different locations to access important goods and services, especially in rural areas. Today, people in the most secluded corners of the continent can order products such as food and medicine from online stores without a problem. Moreover, the increasing number of online shoppers has fuelled the development of more local startups as business-minded folk try to bridge the gap between supply and demand.
The fintech sector is transforming industry at an incredible pace. In 2024, thousands of fintech companies are seamlessly helping African citizens without bank accounts to access crucial financial services. These companies include Safaricom MPESA, MTN, and PalmPay. Such products allow underserved populations ample opportunity to manage their finances without any fuss. Now, everyone can access vital savings, insurance, and loan programmes without the need for a bank account.
Fintech is also playing a significant role in the growth of businesses all over the continent. Different fintech service providers now allow budding ventures to access funding and credit whenever necessary. As businesses thrive with the help of fintech companies, the entire region enjoys enhanced economic development, better infrastructure, more jobs, and many other perks.
The age of manual labour and conventional farming practices is gradually phasing out in Africa. As the continent marches into 2025, more farmers are embracing digital agriculture. Currently, countless service farms are employing next-generation technologies such as precision farming, soil health sensors, and spraying drones. Others have gone the extra mile and are now using advanced data collection and analysis tools to increase agricultural output.
There are many reasons why a farmer should embrace digital agriculture and leave the conventional life behind. They can start as soon as today and get access to digital tools that will help optimize resource usage where elements such water, pesticides, and fertilizer are involved. If they play their cards well and invest extensively, they’ll have unlimited access to real-time data to help make informed decisions and enhance a farm’s performance in the long run.
Healthcare tech is changing Africa for the better. Firstly, it’s helping this continent take great strides in health literacy. A few decades ago, most Africans had little to no access to health information. Many practitioners had access to limited – and, worse, inaccurate – information, which led to issues such as inaccurate diagnoses and poor treatment.
Luckily, things are significantly different in the digital era. Advancements in healthcare tech have led to innovations that are slowly but surely facilitating the resolution of many long-standing issues. For instance, telemedicine and remote care are helping Africans in remote, underserved regions access professional healthcare services with the tap of a button. Moreover, doctors and other stakeholders can now improve service delivery through aspects such as electronic health records and predictive modelling.
Education has equipped millions of individuals in Africa with indispensable knowledge and skills, and contributed immensely to economic growth. Education has also played a major role in reducing poverty levels, since educated individuals are more likely to secure employment and improve their living standards.
With that in mind, remote learning is helping tens of thousands of Africans secure their future through quality education. Since the pandemic, many institutions on this continent have striven to offer seamless digital learning products and solutions to learners remotely. This aspect has had significant impact on rural areas, where bricks-and-mortar institutions are absent.
Numerous technological aspects are set to reshape the African landscape in 2025, from healthcare tech to 5G and fintech. As a citizen of Africa, you should take this golden opportunity presented by the digital age to better your life and chase your dreams. For instance, if you are an investment enthusiast, you can use high-speed internet to learn the fundamentals of investing in gold and start your journey to securing financial freedom.
Anyone who ignores these trends risk issues such as economic disparity, loss of competitive edge, and lack of vital skills. Stay aware and informed, and pave your way to a successful 2025.
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by AvaTrade.
10 Oct
Free to listen for subscribers
News24’s October audiobook that’s free to listen to for subscribers is My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced by Pamela Power.
Indulge in the finer things
News24’s new magazine is curated for those who understand luxury and want to celebrate the richness of life.
Can you ace them all?
Today’s crossword, wordflower, sudoku and weekly news quiz
Friday Briefing – weekly
Insight and analysis on the big political story of the week, plus a roundup of top columns and reader favourites.
02 Oct
02 Oct
04 Sep
21 Aug
16 Aug
07 Aug
Use your voice to deepen the dialogue and engage with stories of courage, endurance, community, triumph, and the pursuit of truth in SA.
10 Oct
17 Sep
17 Sep
13 Sep
Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.
11 Oct
11 Oct
08 Oct
09 Oct
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
