en.Wedoany.com Reported - Telkom has announced an investment of $6.1 million (approximately ZAR 100 million) to establish the Telkom AI Institute, a platform that will provide artificial intelligence and digital skills training to South Africans, aiming to drive local innovation and promote inclusive participation in the digital economy.
This commitment was announced recently in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition. During the high-level week of the WSIS 2026 Forum, the coalition confirmed that global commitments to advancing universal digital connectivity have exceeded $82 billion. Among these commitments, Telkom is one of the few companies from South Africa and Africa.
Serame Taukobong, Group CEO of Telkom, stated that providing connectivity without skills cannot solve South Africa's digital divide. He believes that as artificial intelligence reshapes the economy faster than most skill systems can adapt, a second, more difficult gap may emerge—not only in who can access the network, but also in who can leverage that connectivity to make a living. Taukobong noted that Telkom has been committed for years to building the network infrastructure connecting South Africa, and establishing the AI Institute represents a commitment to transforming connectivity into skills, jobs, and opportunities, particularly for South African groups who need them most but have the least access.
The Telkom AI Institute will focus on practical, employment-oriented AI and digital skills training, with a primary emphasis on young people, small businesses, and communities currently underserved by South Africa's digital economy. This initiative is part of Telkom's "Vision 2030" strategy, which aims to expand the company's role from a pure infrastructure provider to a builder of the nation's digital skills foundation, supporting South Africa's competitiveness on the global stage.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, stated that the Partner2Connect commitments reaching $82 billion mark a milestone in the global journey toward universal digital development. He emphasized that these commitments must now be translated into impactful projects, aligning national and regional priorities with partner pledges and delivering measurable results across regions.
Since its launch in 2021, Partner2Connect has received over 1,000 commitments from 149 countries, with projects currently being implemented in more than 190 countries. Africa and the Asia-Pacific region are the primary implementation areas, with digital infrastructure accounting for the largest share of global commitments. The ITU estimates that achieving universal and meaningful connectivity globally by 2030 may require between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion. Telkom's commitment will be tracked through the ITU's Partner2Connect platform, alongside pledges from other Partner2Connect Champions.
