Google is fighting high data costs in Africa, says Alex Okosi

Google is fighting high data costs in Africa, says Alex Okosi

In 2021, Google terminated an investment of $ 1 billion in Africa to improve connectivity, promote innovations and support local entrepreneurs. Three years later, the company claims that this investment has an effect. According to a current report , which was created on behalf of the tech gigant Billions in the region.

meaning of the African market for Google

Alex Okosi, born in Nigeria, managing director of Google for Subsahara Africa, spoke to CNN about his vision for the company. These include transformative infrastructure projects such as the Equiano-Sekabel , as well as the recently announced Umoja cable route, the Kenya with Australia linked. In addition, the expansion of Google Translate to more African languages ​​is discussed, as is the role of artificial intelligence (AI).

Why invest in Africa?

CNN: How important is the African market for Google? Why did you invest $ 1 billion?
Alex Okosi: The African market has an incredible potential. Think: In the next four or five years, more than 40 % of the global youth population will live on this continent. This means that today and tomorrow's workers will come from Africa. We see Africa not only as a business option, but also as an opportunity for the whole world to really benefit from the enormous potential and talent that Africa has to offer.

Of course there are many challenges that we have to overcome. The digital gap on this continent is still available. It was therefore important to us to ensure that we invest in the right way in Africa - in any relevant value chain that can help to achieve Africa's full potential.

Investments in digital infrastructure

CNN: Why is it important to invest in infrastructure, and what is the importance of these projects for people and companies in Africa?
ao: One of the biggest challenges on this continent is the still existing digital gap. The data costs are still high and connectivity is a challenge. Investments in infrastructure such as Equiano and Umoja will help reduce these costs and enable companies to use this digital highway to become more efficient.

The data costs will not be decreased immediately. We still have to work with local providers to ensure that you use this new bandwidth and reduce the costs so that consumers benefit from it. We don't want to leave anyone behind, and to make sure that this is done, the data costs must be reduced.

extension of Google Translate

CNN: To what extent could the expansion of Google Translate to make business communication easier and increase social inclusion on the continent?
ao: The performance of AI has made it possible for us to bring more languages ​​online much faster. I am happy about the 13 new languages ​​we introduced in Google Translate, including my mother tongue IGBO. This opens up more than 300 million people who speak these languages ​​the opportunity to use the Internet in their own language.

From the point of view of inclusion, this means that a much larger community of people will now be able to use digital tools to promote their companies and careers. If I am someone from a rural area and speak a certain language, I can now take part in this digital revolution, which we speak every day, as part of the growth of the continent.

ai research as an opportunity

CNN: 2018 Google opened its first African Ai research center in ghana . What options do these AI research centers offer for the continent?
ao: Our AI research centers will support the continent in a variety of ways, and we already see some of these advantages. A central problem for farmers on this continent are pests. We have now developed a AI solution that enables us to predict possible catastrophic pest epidemics seven days in advance. Even in the event of floods or climate changes, 23 African countries now benefit from our flood forecast hub, which provides you with information about when flooding could occur so that people can plan accordingly.

challenges and risks of the AI ​​

CNN: What are the risks of the AI ​​and how could their integration influence the employment patterns in the country?
ao: Of course there are challenges that AI entails: false information, cyber security problems if it is misused. At Google we talk about acting courageously and responsibly. It is about working with the communities, science and the governments to ensure that we create framework conditions for the development of AI that best serves the citizens and communities we serve. The important thing is that we implement AI responsibly and reduce risks associated with AI.

The future of Africa in 10 years

cnn: Where do you see Africa in ten years?
ao: In ten years we will have much more digitally competent people who can use the power of technology and AI to really transform this continent with more jobs, more innovations, more companies and more growth. I believe that AI will help us to overcome many social challenges, be it more productive in nutritional security, healthcare or the agricultural sector.

My dream is that in the future we see more and more African startups like Moniepoint, who become unicorns here on the continent (privately kept companies with an evaluation of over $ 1 billion) because I really believe that we are on this way. Africa has an incredible potential, and I am just thrilled to be one of the people who experience it up close.