Africa Internet Governance Forum 2021

Digital taxes. Internet shutdowns. Infrastructure gap. Digital gender divide. Urban-rural digital divide. All of these challenges pose barriers to Internet access in many African countries. However, African countries not only face challenges of access but many are also unable to afford such access. Today in African countries, Internet access is expensive, and where it is available, governments restrict it through arbitrary regulations and policies. As the COVID-19 pandemic hits, these restrictions become more pronounced with the increased
dependence on Internet services. The objective of this session is then, to examine these barriers and crowdsource ideas on how to ensure a more affordable internet going forward. Some discussion points include: what role can regional human rights institutions play in ensuring more access and affordability of Internet services during the pandemic? Do private sector actors play any significant role? How can policies for affordable Internet translate to enforcement and implementation on the ground in African countries?