The report also features an assessment of the implementation of the Universal Service Fund cited differently across the African countries covered in this report but addressing national access to universal services to bridge the unresolved digital divide with at least notable improvements in Uganda on the implementation of the Universal Service Fund in 2023 compared with performance in 2022.
The digital divide still echoes across the reported African countries, yet some countries have faced challenges implementing the USF.
Namibia, for instance, has had a setback with the fund remaining dormant as telecommunications operators resist compliance through legal action.
Lesotho reports on the USF expenditure are not readily available for public access, with countries like Zimbabwe and Benin failing to disclose the actual amount publicly and regularly since the fund's inception.
The failure of governments to disclose the amounts available under USF is a masking veil on transparency, showing gaps in good governance practices.
"Governments must ensure the necessary safeguards in the rolling out of digital ID policies and practices and enact national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies to address AI and emerging technologies," said the report.
While contributing towards broadband access through financial resources, and collaborating with governments, the private sector was asked to ensure that community standards protect vulnerable groups from the lived realities of information disorders through rights-respecting content moderation practices.
The sector must also disclose transparency reports concerning the process of responding to government requests for internet shutdowns and unauthorised data access.
The report said civil society organisations must continue to push to advocate for digital rights and digital inclusion, raise awareness of information disorders capacitate communities to fact-check.
"CSOs should monitor, document and report on digital rights, the USF and internet disruptions to hold duty bearers accountable," the report recommended.