limit to such Jonna, what if he didn't like please come forward. Let's leave the back seats for late arrivals. Our guest of honor is in the house, and we're going to welcome him in a moment. So please join us up front, closer to us, so you know we don't have to speak to empty chairs up front. So can I please bother you? To come forward, ladies and gentlemen, please come forward. Move forward so we look, you know, better together, sir, if you you know the gentleman in the back, please move forward, getting back. Yeah. What does he was he made?
What is he but Amadou, so which? What does he go about? Jon,
whether that with a new touch as a watch, call us, check Google, I capture the Mahalo
and stay for the heat, please. Thank you.
Bah, nigga. So
what I feel like it, yeah, this is going to be a very packed day. You know, we have a lot to do. We want to begin, you know, as early as possible. So we have to start with the people already in the house. So please join us up front, if you could. Thank you. So in a moment, we will welcome our guest of honor and and other officials, and then we will begin. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. It's a very exciting day, and I'm sure you're as excited as I am, because we cannot imagine life without the internet, right? Can you imagine life without the Internet? Can you,
even most of us, would not have been in the south without the internet, right? Most of you
have done everything through the internet, emails. What's up? You know,
all the communications, imagine that your tickets
just start to book your flights through the internet and get your tickets paid through the internet. Everything happens through the internet. So how about we? Before they come, celebrate the internet with a round of applause, let's do it. You.
And every single person behind the internet, of
course. Thank you so much. So let's please bear with me as we wait for our guest of honor to enter, and then we will begin. Thank you so much, but I'm signal attack to take a Swaha LA, let Jon take a plan but a gummy a honu but Amadou Hale, to come about to play a
little bit of music while we wait.
The silence is Awkward. You
afro, afro,
afro, afro, Hello, ladies and
gentlemen, Minister
of innovation and
technology, please welcome with A round of applause.
We're also joined by other officials from all the
partners. Thank you so much Your Excellency for joining us this morning. Thank you. We're honored.
Please share the two tables. Thank you. Applause.
All right. Thank you so much. And
good morning once again, and a very warm welcome to every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, now our guest is here. We can begin on behalf of the organizers, ladies and gentlemen, it's my greatest honor and pleasure to welcome you all to the internet development conference 2025 here in the vibrant half of Africa, Addis Ababa, of course, in the land of origins, Ethiopia. And we're really thrilled to have you all join us this morning on this very critical journey to strengthen the internet infrastructure across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or EGOT region, let's ladies and gentlemen, please begin this wonderful day, exciting day, with a nice round of applause. How about that?
Thank you so much this morning, ladies and
gentlemen, we're truly honored by the presence of His Excellency Doctor Bella Minister of innovation and technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and our guest of honor. And, of course, our patterns minister and his excellency engineer, bah Chaba, Director General of the Ethiopian communications authority and Dr Emmanuel C Manasseh, Acting Regional Director for itu, the internet International Telecommunications Union, regional office Africa. And Mr. Chris Loke, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Internet Society Foundation. And Dr David bakeli, Internet Society regional vice president for Africa, Mister demo sikiriaku, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Wingo Africa. And Doctor Asra mulatto, president of Internet Society Ethiopia chapter, as well as quite a number of high level government officials and other officials from around the world, in Africa and Ethiopia and season experts from Ethiopia, again, from all over Africa and the globe, who are here to share their expertise throughout the panels and the parallel sessions. Ladies and gentlemen, of course, the media is in the house. Thank you all so much for joining us. Please welcome our guest of honor and everyone with another round of applause. Everybody together
now. Thank you so much. Please allow me
a few words to set the scene as an introduction before we begin this event. Seen, ladies and gentlemen, 2025 in Ethiopia, building a resilient Internet ecosystem in the god region. Could not be more timely and essential as we are gathered here today, we're reminded of the remarkable progress that has been made since the first meeting in 2020 the first internet development conference took place as Ethiopia embarked in the liberalization of its telecom sector, and today we're a long way into this liberalization. And the telecom landscape is quite different from what it was back in 2020 and the initial conference laid vital groundwork, fostering discussion that discussions that were once unheard of on Ethiopia ever and catalyzing the establishment of Internet Society Ethiopia chapter, as well as the launch of key initiatives such as the Internet exchange point, otherwise known as the ix, P, as we stand at the very beginning of 2025 a brand new year. Ladies and gentlemen, we're not only building on previous successes, but also expanding our vision to encompass the broader IGAD region. And our objective is clear, to foster regional cooperation and knowledge sharing that can empower every single member state of the IGA region into unique journeys towards improved connectivity and robust internet economy. This conference will dive into the challenges and successes experienced by different countries as we collectively brainstorm solutions to overcome existing barriers to internet access, as well as foster collaboration for more and enduring dialog between policy makers in the house and regulators businesses and technologies and facilitating collaboration that can lead to significant advancement in internet infrastructure in the region, for every single person, regardless of where they live, what they do and who they are. Recent data from the Internet Society pulse paints an encouraging picture. Was local initiatives driving investment into internet infrastructure and Africa's overall internet resilience is growing with consistency in East Africa and Ethiopia, we're here today not just to acknowledge these strides, but to actually build upon them before we begin. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express our gratitude on behalf of the organizers, to our patron, the Ministry of innovation and technology represented by His Excellency, the minister here and our local host, window Africa and Internet Society and the organizers who are the organizers and our STEM sponsors, as you can see here on the banner meta AFRICOM technologies and links and other partners who and every single individual who made this Event A possibility, ladies and gentlemen, and your commitment to internet development in our region is invaluable to our partners. Please, a round of applause one more time.
Thank you so much. As I said, we cannot imagine our
lives without the internet today, and we owe every single partner here for that now. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for joining us this morning, and without further ado, please join me in welcoming Dr Asra. Asra mulatto, president of Internet Society, Ethiopia chapter for the official welcome remarks, please welcome him with a round of applause. You.
Good morning, everyone. His Excellency. Dr, beleta Mola, Minister Ministry of innovation and technology of Ethiopia. Dr, dear angeliba, Director General of Ethiopian communications authority. Dear Dr Emmanuel manage, Acting Director of atu regional office for Africa. Dear Mr. Demos causa, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Wino Africa group. Dear Dr David regional, Vice President for Africa at the Internet Society, dear presenters, panelists, moderators, ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome to you all as a chair of Internet Society Ethiopia chapter, I am truly honored to welcome each one of you on behalf of our vibrant community of 400 plus members in today's world, the internet is no longer a legend. It is a very lifeline of our interconnected world. It empowers individuals, fuels innovations and connects us all. Ethiopia with its rich history and immense potential, stand exposed to harness the power of the Internet to overcome challenges like poverty and inequality. But realizing this is but realizing this potential requires a collective effort. Indeed, we need to work together to create a digital ecosystem that is open, accessible and secure for everyone. The Internet Society, Ethiopia chapter invites you excuse me to join us in this critical mission. So let's raise awareness about the transport power of the internet. Let's empower individuals with the digital skills they need to thrive recording in progress. Let's foster a sense of community and connectivity across Ethiopia. Let's ensure online safety privacy for all. Let's advocate for policies and regulations that promote an open and inclusive digital future. Let's champion the use of the Internet for good to address societal and economic challenges. This conference will delve into some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of internet, locally and elsewhere. How can we develop effective digital strategies for Ethiopia? How can we leverage the Internet to modernize the financial sector with what infrastructure investments are needed to ensure equitable access to the internet? How can we build a more resilient and secure internet ecosystem? How can regional integration be strengthened through the power of the internet? How can we harness the Internet to recognize education and empower learners? I encourage you all to actively participate in the discussions, share your expertise and connect with your fellow attendees. Let's use this platform as an opportunity to inspire change and build a digital Ethiopia that benefits everyone. So I thank you, and I wish you all a productive, insightful conference. May God bless Ethiopia. Thank you.
Thank you so much. That was Dr Assad,
mulatto, president of Internet Society, Ethiopia. Thank you for that very warm welcome. And just as he said, to reiterate, internet is no longer a luxury, right? Can you imagine your life without the Internet? Show me your hands if you can. Can you not even a single person? Thank you so much. Now, ladies and gentlemen, before we dive deeper, I want to like to kindly ask you all to kindly cooperate with us to keep an eye on this very monitor down here that will display a countdown timer that will show you how much time you have during your speeches, your presentations, as well as well as the panel discussions, and when you respond to some of the questions, because we have a very busy day, and we want to try and stick to time, and we don't want to go away over time, and we don't want to come back on stage and bother you to, you know, keep it forward. So please try to stick to that monitors timing. Thank you so much. And so without further ado. Now, please join me in welcoming Mr. Demo Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of wingu Africa, our local host for another welcome remark, please welcome with a round of applause.
Morning
His Excellency, doctor bellette Moller, Minister, Minister of innovation and technology, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, fellow pioneers of the digital age. It is with immense pleasure and anticipation that I welcome you all to the second internet development conference, IDC 2025 this event organized by the Internet Society, partnership with wingu Africa, the other centers. We're honored to be the local guests in this vibrant city of Addis Ababa. As we convene today, we stand at a pivotal juncture in the evolution of the digital landscape across the legal region. Wingo Africa, as the premier carrying neutral tier three data center service provider in East Africa, is proud to be on the forefront of this digital revolution. Excuse me.
And of course, the pages get all mixed up.
Give me a second. I apologize so much for the digital
age. I should have put in an iPad, right anyway. So this conference is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering stronger, more integrated and resilient Internet ecosystem throughout the region. The specific objectives of this gathering are to address regional challenges by identifying and overcoming the barriers that hinder internet development in our diverse nations, to promote knowledge sharing by cultivating cross border internet exchange points and expansion of the community.
And again, here we go,
strengthen regional cooperation by encouraging
collaboration amongst IGA nations to support the implementation of the African congenital Free Trade Agreement and accelerate economic growth. Build robust network, facilitating this facility discussions and establishment of of internet exchange points.
And wingu Africa has been
in the forefront of this. We will instigators of the Djibouti Internet Exchange, and that's been up for the last seven, eight years in Djibouti, we have been encouraging the addicts here in Ethiopia, and that's our commitment in this part for the development and exchange point extinguished guests, all participants, Ethiopia, the host nation, has emerged As a beacon of digital innovation in Africa, the visionary digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy has set an ambitious goals to transform the nation into a digital powerhouse. We commend the government's effort in liberalizing the telecom sector, fostering competition and driving digital transformation, crucial steps towards internet development and democratization. Wing Africa is dedicated to supporting Ethiopia's digital aspirations and leveraging its expertise to accelerate the digital transformation of the EGOT countries. We will collaborate closely with government, private sector partners and international organizations to enhance regional connectivity by investing in critical infrastructure such as fiber optic networks and data centers, which we have already done, of course, here at the it Park and in Djibouti and other countries to improve with the aim to improve connectivity and reduce latency, strengthen the cybersecurity by implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and safeguard digital assets. Promote digital inclusion. This is key empowering underserved communities by providing a
four affordable access to the internet and digital literacy
training. This is, this is very, very important. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, over the next three days, approximately 10 panel discussions are scheduled focusing on infrastructure for the internet development. These discussions will bring together key global players to address the region's connectivity challenges. I see on the panel, there's meta and others attending here enhance regional cooperation and foster the growth of a robust internet economy. The IDC 2025 will serve as a pivotal platform to knowledge sharing, professional networking and collaboration on critical initiatives, including establishing internet exchange points and supporting community networks as the host institution. Our company has been diligently working alongside organizers and other key stakeholders within the country to bring today's event to fruition. We are committed to leveraging all available support to implement the valuable insights and recommendations that emerge from these three days of discussions. We strongly encourage all of you to actively participate in every panel discussion and networking platform. This conference represents a collaborative effort that will benefit everybody in the digital ecosystem. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of the digital age, create new opportunities and improve the lives of millions of people across the region. Let us embrace this opportunity to shape the future of the internet in the E guard region. Let us connect, collaborate and innovate to build a more prosperous and inclusive digital society. Least, not least, last, but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everybody involved in the preparation of this event, particularly our partner ISOC and the Ministry of innovation and technology. All participants are welcome again to the internet development conference, welcome to the future and enjoy the beauty of Addis Ababa, thank you.
Thank you so much, Mr. Demos, and it's an honor
to be standing before you once again, because I had the honor of hosting the launch of wingus data center, one of the best in Africa, at the ICT center, as you mentioned ICT Park, as you mentioned a while back. And thank you so much for being here as well for delivering that welcome remark. Ladies and gentlemen, we're also joined by His Excellency, Dr Yeshurun alamayo. He is the state master of innovation and technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Please welcome with a round of applause. Thank you for joining us, sir. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let's proceed to our next speaker once I have recognized our guest who just arrived, and our next speaker is, of course, Doctor Emmanuel C man Asse, Acting Regional Director for the IT regional office, and he's going to deliver a keynote remark. Please welcome him with a round of applause. You.
Excellencies,
distinguished delegates, colleagues and friend, good morning.
It's great to be here today, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Internet Society Wingo Africa and his excellence, Mola, the Minister of innovation, and ICT of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, and his team for being incredible hosts, digital technology has fundamental,
has fundamentally
reshaped our world, and Hold enormous potential to accelerate human progress, but unlocking this potential for all requires guardrails and a collaborative approach to governance. This internet
development conference
remains crucial in bringing us together to deliberate on how to develop resilient digital infrastructure, as well as enabling police and regulatory environments that guarantees an open, accessible, inclusive and secure internet for all Under the IDC 2025 over eking theme, strengthening internet infrastructure and regulatory framework within the Africa, African EG, countries, it is obvious that this conference places its attention in digital infrastructure and enabling police and regulatory environment. Ladies and gentlemen, digital infrastructure has become a fundamental for many activities in communities, business and governments. It helps to maximize human capacity, quality of life by increasing people's access to education, health care, employment, civic engagement and financial services. Indeed, the need for collaboration in digital infrastructure investment has never been more important. Global drive of universal meaningful connectivity demands substantial financial resources, proactive leadership, technical expertise and inclusive collaboration, particularly to maintain headways through last mile delivery of services, certainly closing The Digital investment gaps will necess identification and deployment of innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, which may include, among others, platforms of poor digital investments and technical forums designed to enhance coordination and share best practices investments in digital infrastructure has gained unprecedented momentum as a way to boost socio economic development and accelerate lagging progress toward the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations for 2020, 30. Connectivity and digital technology can directly or indirectly contribute to an estimated 70% of the SDG targets. Distinguish the colleagues, digital infrastructure, including mobile networks, fiber optics, network, sub sea cables and satellites. Internet has been vital in helping more people connect than ever before. Moreover, the need for establishing and enhancing national and regional Internet exchange points cannot be over emphasized. IX piece enable local networks to efficiently exchange information at a common point within a country, rather than needing to exchange local internet traffic oversea.
Keeping local and regional Internet traffic
within the local and regional infrastructure means that it avoids data routing through upstream internet providers. This could lead to reduce the connectivity cost, reduce the Latins and efficient bandwidth utilization, ladies and gentlemen, enabling police and regulatory environment can build a digital space that does not leave no one behind in eager countries and beyond, that foster economic growth through innovation, while ensuring that is safe, more secure and trust was it is our responsibility to set fit For the purpose regulatory environment, as well as to collaborate in ways that are thoughtful, trustworth, enabling and inclusive. This will ensure that our continued digital transformation journey in the region is people centered, and is in line with the development aspiration of fostering the growth of a robust internet economic for all distinguished colleagues in 2024 itu data showed that 68% of the world population are now online. That means that 1/3 of the population is still offline. Of that number, 89 millions more men than women are using Internet globally and in Sub Saharan Africa, just 38% of the population have internet access. Similarly, mobile internet is 14 times more expensive in Africa than in Europe. The average smartphone can cost up to 40% of the average month income in some countries, we need to invest in affordable digital infrastructure and services now. This year, we'll conduct the 20 year review of the outcome of the World Summit on information society, with the global digital compact as a key milestone on the journey to the whisis plus 20 review, we now have a crucial opportunity to strengthen the foundation for more resilient and sustainable digital future. As we prepare for the implementation of the GDC and the whisis plus 20, I encourage eager countries to unite like never before and take action that can improve lives by promoting internet that is accessible, affordable, safe and resilient. As I conclude, I would like to insist that the IDC is a unique occasion for us to come together. It is important we continue to discuss these discussions at regional and national levels. I would like to encourage you to cooperate meaningful with all stakeholders. I wish you a successful, fruitful exchange and productive meetings. Let's together, keep building an open and safe internet for all. Thank you. Applause.
I thank you so much, sir. That was
Dr Emmanuel C Manasseh, Acting Regional Director for it, regional office now, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our next speaker. That is engineer His Excellency, engineer bah. Chara Bah, Director General of ECA in Ethiopia, Please welcome with a round of applause foreign
Good morning Your Excellency. Doctor waleta Mola, Minister of innovation and technology. Doctor Emmanuel Manse, Director itu regional office for Africa. Doctor David bakala, regional vice president. Africa, ISOC, Mister demos, Kira Chu, Deputy CEO and the Chief Operating Officer, Wino Africa, Doctor Asra mulatto, President ISOC, Ethiopia chapter. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it's a great honor to stand before you today and deliver a keynote speech at this internet development conference 2025 a gathering of visionaries, innovators and industry leaders committed to shaping the future of the connectivity in the in the Intergovernmental Authority of development, egard region, as we convey here, we do so with a clear and shared purpose to lay the foundation for a stronger, more Integrated Internet ecosystem encompassing Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, South, Sudan and Djibouti. The Internet has become the backbone of modern development. It transcends borders, connects communities and powers economies. Yet, while this potential is boundless, the challenges we face in harnessing it are significant. This conference is not just an event, but a call to action to address these challenges, share knowledge, strengthen cooperation and build resilient network that will propel our region into a new era of digital transformation. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the goals of this conference is addressing regional challenges. The IGA region, like many others, faces a unique set of challenges in its internet development journey. These include limited infrastructure and even uneven access regulatory disparities and cyber security threats. Bridging the digital divide requires deliberate investments in infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas. We must also harmonize policies and regulations to create an enabling environment for innovation and growth. Together, we can transform these challenges into opportunities for Inclusive Development. The second goal of the conference is promoting knowledge. Sharing. Knowledge is the cornerstone of progress, by fostering a culture of sharing best practices, technical expertise and the research findings, we can empower our region to adopt and adapt to emerging technologies. This conference is a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences, enabling us to learn from one another and build a collective prosperity of knowledge that benefits all. The third goal of this conference is strengthening regional cooperation. Collaboration is the key to success in today's interconnected world. The IGAD region is home to diverse cultures, economies and perspectives which when united, can create a powerful force for change. Strengthening regional cooperation will enable us to pool resources, align priorities and implement joint initiatives that maximize impact, whether it is through cross border, for optic networks, harmonized regulatory frameworks, original cyber security strategies, our combined efforts will yield far greater results than individual endeavors. The fourth goal of the internet development conference 2025 is building networks at its core, the internet is about connectivity, connecting people, businesses, governments and ideas. Building networks, both physical and social, is essential to realizing our vision of a robust Internet ecosystem. Let us invest in the infrastructure that connects our countries, the partnership that reach our sectors and the relationships that unite our people. By doing so, we not only strengthen our region, but also contribute to the global Internet community as we embark on this journey, let us remember that the internet is not merely a tool, it is a force for empowerment, inclusion and transformation. By addressing regional challenges, promoting knowledge sharing, strengthening cooperation and building networks, we can unlock the full potential of the internet for the IGAD region as we deliberate on critical topics such as regulation to connect the unconnected internet resilience and the regional integration and the role of the internet integration and the financial sector, we reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient and innovative digital future. Today, more than ever, connecting the unconnected remains one of the most pressing challenges. Despite the tremendous strides we have made in internet penetration, millions still lack access to the opportunities that digital connectivity brings. It's our collective responsibility to bridge this gap through robust infrastructure development, sound policies and a collaborative initiative that leave no one behind. The role of the internet in the financial sector has been profound, enabling secure digital transactions, fostering financial inclusion and empowering communities. Similarly, the integration of digital tools in education has the potential to revolutionize learning, making it more accessible and equitable. These sectors have required resilient and secure internet infrastructure to try underscoring the need for regional collaboration in fostering internet resilience and robust framework for governments. This conference also serves as a reminder that while technology opens new frontiers, its benefits must be guided by ethical considerations and strategic regulation. Striking a balance between innovation and oversight will be key to ensuring the digital age service humanity as a whole. The outcome of our discussion will have far reaching implications, not only for our digital ecosystem, but also for the social economic development of our nations. By strengthening infrastructure and regulatory cooperation, we contribute to the realization of the African continental Free Trade Agreement, enabling seamless digital trade and integration across borders. As we embark on the important dialog, I encourage each of you to bring forward expertise, insights and ideas together, we can build a resilient, inclusive and forward looking Internet ecosystem that reflects the aspiration of the EGOT region and empowers future generation. Ladies and gentlemen, as we convene to explore the transformative power of the internet, we must recognize,
excuse me, as we convene to explore the transformative power of the internet, we must recognize the pivotal role internet plays in shaping our economies, societies and daily lives. The Internet has redefined the boundless the boundaries of possibility. It has brought the world closer, enabling instant communication, driving economic growth and fostering innovation. Yet it is not just a tool. It is a platform for empowerment. It provides individuals with access to knowledge, business with opportunities to expand, and the government is with avenues to improve service delivery. But the power of the internet is only as effective as the inclusivity and equality of it is rich. One of the greatest challenges we face in the digital divide is the gap between those who have access to the internet and those who do not. This divide is not just a technical issue. It is a socio economic challenge that impacts education, health care and economic opportunities for us to realize the full potential of the internet, we must work collectively to bridge this divide, ensuring that connectivity is universal, affordable and accessible to all regard, regardless of geography or income level, as the internet becomes an integral part of our lives, issues of trust, security and misinformation become more pressing. Cyber security must be a priority, and we must adopt robust frameworks to protect data and privacy. Equally important is the need to combat misinformation and promote digital literacy as well informed citizens is essential for the healthy functioning of the democracies and economies, the rapid pace of internet development necessitates thoughtful and adaptive policy making. Regulatory frameworks must strike a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring accountability. Policies should encourage investment in infrastructure, supporting the growth of local content and services and safeguard the rights of users. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and the Internet of Things are reshaping industries and creating new opportunities as we embrace these advancements, it is crucial to ensure they are developed and deployed responsibly with a focus on addressing social challenges and creating sustainable adoption all stakeholders, governments, private sectors, academia and the civil society to come together to build an Internet ecosystem that is inclusive, secure and resilient is very important. Let us harness the power of collaboration to drive forward the agenda of prioritizes that product prioritizes connectivity for all trust in the digital realm and the responsible use of technology in closing, the internet is more than a technological advancement. It is a force of human progress. It is up to us to ensure that its benefits are equitably shared and that its challenges are addressed with wisdom and the foresight, together, we can shape a digital future that is not only innovative, but also inclusive and sustainable. Thank you. I look forward to the insights and discussions that will emerge from this conference, and I wish you all a fruitful and inspiring conference. Thank you.
Thank you so much. That was His Excellency engineer
bah Director General of the Ethiopian communications authority, otherwise known as the ECA. Thank you for your remarks. And just perfectly, as we said, the internet is actually what determines where we go from here. It really determines our growth. And imagine if every single person, Ethiopia and in Africa and across the world has access to internet and an efficient one that so with this, ladies and gentlemen, we get to our official opening remark, for which I'm going to kindly ask for Dr Asra mulatto, president of Internet Society Ethiopia chapter, to come here and take the honor of inviting our Guest of Honor for his remarks. Please come up here, sir
late fi gentlemen, it's my
honor to invite His Excellency, Dr belletta Mola, Minister of innovation and technology, our guest of Honor for the opening remark. Please.
Hello, Rachel,
good morning. Excellencies, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, partners and friends, ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed, I'm honored to join you today at the Internet development conference 2025 in Addis Ababa, this conference is a testament to the tremendous progress we have made in advancing the digital landscape in Ethiopia and the broader region, The Internet has become an indispensable tool for economic growth, social development and communication. It connects us across borders, empowers individuals and drives innovation. However, we also recognize that access to the Internet remains a challenge for many in our region, Ethiopia's digital transformation is experiencing remarkable progress, driven by our comprehensive digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, the liberalization of the telecom sector, combined with ongoing reforms of ethos, Telecom has unleashed a wave of investment and innovation. Ethiopia has hence achieved impressive milestones in expanding telecom infrastructure, though, still, there are a lot of gaps that needs to be addressed. The 4g coverage is expanded to 34% of the population, and the 5g service is launched in 14 towns across Ethiopia. Furthermore, mobile subscribers base has topped 80 million. The mobile broadband users has also surpassed 45 million initiatives like telebur With over 51 million users, demonstrate the power of digital innovation to drive financial inclusion and transform how Ethiopians conduct transactions. Beyond the telecom infrastructure, we are witnessing a surge of private sector investment in digital infrastructure, including a proliferation of data centers. This is complemented by our commitment to expanding digital ID, which will be crucial for enhancing access to service and promoting financial inclusion. Ladies and gentlemen, these achievements highlight Ethiopia's commitment to building a robust and inclusive digital economy that empowers all citizens and positions our nation as a leader in Africa's digital innovation. While we celebrate these achievements, we remain acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead. We must continue to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all Ethiopians, regardless of their location or background, can reap the benefits of the digital revolution. We must hence, also prioritize cyber security, data privacy and digital literacy, to ensure that our digital future is secure and equitable. As we approach the culmination of digital Ethiopia 2025 we are already laying groundwork for an even more ambitious vision that is digital Ethiopia 2030 this new strategy will build on the success of our current initiatives while addressing emerging challenges and opportunities. Ladies and gentlemen, digital Ethiopia 2030 is not just a government initiative. It is a national endeavor. We invite all stakeholders, the private sector, civil society, organizations, academia and international partners, to join us in shaping this vision and building a truly inclusive and prosperous digital future for Ethiopia, digital divides persist and the full potential of the internet remains untapped for many communities. The IDC, the internet development conference 2025 aims to address this challenge and to build a more inclusive and interconnected digital future for the IGAD region. We will hence explore ways to improve internet infrastructure, enhance digital literacy and promote responsible use of the Internet. We will also discuss the role of the internet in fostering economic growth, in creating jobs and empowering women and youth. This conference is hands a platform for collaboration, knowledge, sharing and networking. It brings together policy makers, regulators, business technologists and civil society organizations to discuss the latest trends and innovations in internet development. We will hear from expertise in their fields, share best practice and identify opportunities for collaboration. I'm confident that this conference will be a success and will contribute to the development of a more connected and prosperous Egar region. Together, we can harness the power of the Internet to create a brighter future for all. Thank you for your attention, and I wish you all a productive and engaging conference. I call this conference is now open. Thank you very much. You
thank you so much Your Excellency. Dr
Bellet Ammon, Minister of innovation and technology of the Federal Democratic cooperative Ethiopia, our guest of honor for delivering that heartfelt message and for joining us here and honoring us by your presence. Thank you so much, sir. One more round of applause for the Minister, please. Now if you bare with me, we'll just take one minute. Flawless events will remove this podium for me, and then I will invite our guest of honor and other partners to come to the stage for a group photo. And then we'll go step outside. Everybody will take a group picture. And then finally, we'll have coffee and we'll come back for the first session of this morning. So without further ado, Team Flores, please come and Help Me With The podium. Thank
you. Applause.
Afro,
Thank you so much. A round of
applause to our guests, please one more time. Thank you so much Your Excellency, Dr belletta, for joining us this morning and opening us with your remarks. We are now going to step outside for another group picture with more people on the on the banner just outside, then we'll step out for coffee. So please give me one minute as our guests leave first. Thank you so much. Wi and the gara photo and set up Alan Zaga Barrack in asylum. Please join outside. All officials join us outside. There is a bigger banner outside for a group picture, then anyone else interested can join that photo. Photo, no, you don't get all gone Photo. Photo, need Alan. Haq, listen in the canine. Let's meet back here in 20 minutes for the next session. Thank you so much. Haq, Hanna, Melissa, enjoy your coffee. We'll see you back here in 20 minutes.
So I go by Reggie,
and I'm 70 years old.
My start for the love of animals came with a show called Wild crab. It was my favorite show. It's so cool looking, oh, in a dinosaur kind of way. It might still be my favorite. I haven't watched in years, but it's still top three. And that show got me researching what jobs they do, because they travel the world, study animals and see the adaptations they have, and that made me research certain animals, like I didn't know what a pangolin was, not a penguin, a pangolin, it's like a mini dinosaur, and it's real. Because if I want to see an animal or like an animal's anatomy, I can just look up skeleton or respiratory system of such and such. That's how I use the internet.
I am a 2020, year plus educator, just like other big city urban areas are their high crime rate for me to find out that the community I was
born and raised in six in the nation in crime, the digital divide is another challenge
in the sunny side community. So we have families who are without or minimal and so one of my reasons for joining South union is to help improve that, especially with our kids, because that's where it starts.
During COVID I found out that there was a disparity with low
income areas receiving the internet. It was first accessibility and then also the price. But with this grant, what we'll be able to do is we'll be able to build a self supporting tower. I want to thank the Internet
Society and truist Bay. We created a triangle that if you're in
the triangle, you are no longer digitally divided. We'll have our own infrastructure, and then we'll
be able to go into the community and offer services at low or even sometimes at no cost. Everyone needs the internet, so it's just like having water and lights now. So far,
the steering
foundation is exposure to science, technology, engineering and math. We have been able to teach kids aquaponics,
agriculture, and they learn how to do solar as well have them access the internet so they were able to talk with kids their own age, from South Africa, California as well as DC. It's helped my education, because I get to see other perspectives.
The Internet does help me work at
home, because the school uses computers now. When I first started here, I wasn't as good as in math, and I couldn't do problems in my head if I don't know how to do math or physics or anything in general, I just look it up on YouTube. But now I can actually just do it. I'm not next to my family. Zoom meeting.
The Internet definitely does help me learn more effectively,
that I can look up internships, and yeah, it definitely helps a lot. I'm gonna
to veterinarian science because I want To
be a vet. Whenever I finish, I
i Go by Reggie, and I'm 17 years old.
My start for the love of animals came with a show called Wild cracks. It was my favorite show. He's so cool looking. Oh, the dinosaur kind of way. This might still be my favorite. I haven't watched in years, but it's still top three. And that show got me researching what jobs they do, because they travel the world, study animals and see the adaptations they have, and that made me research certain animals. Like I didn't know what a pangolin was, not a penguin, a pangolin, it's like a mini dinosaur, and it's real. Because if I want to see an animal or like an animal's anatomy, I can just look up skeleton or respiratory system of such and such. That's how I use the internet.
I am a 2020,
year plus educator, just like other big city, urban areas are their high crime rate, for me to find out that the community I was born and
raised in six in the nation in crime, the digital divide is another challenge
in the sunny side community. So we have families who are without or minimal and so one of my reasons for joining South union is to help improve that, especially with our kids, because that's where it starts. You
during COVID, I found out that there was a disparity
with low income areas receiving the internet. It was first accessibility and then also the price. But with this grant, what we'll be able to do is we'll be able to build a self supporting tower. I want to thank the Internet Society
in trues Bay, we've created a triangle that if you're
in the triangle, you are no longer digitally divided. We'll have our own infrastructure, and then we'll
be able to go into the community and offer services at low or even sometimes at no cost. Everyone needs the internet, so it's just like having water and lights now. So part
of the stereo
foundation is exposure to science, technology, engineering and math. We have been able to teach kids aquaponics,
agriculture, and they learn how to do solar as well have them access the internet so they were able to talk with kids their own age, from South Africa, California, as well as BC. It's helped my education, because I get to see other perspectives.
The Internet does help me
work at home, because the school uses computers now, when I first started here, I wasn't as good as in math, and I couldn't do problems in my head if I don't know how to do Math.