ICANN Expands African Footprint with Targeted Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Initiatives.

ADDIS ABABA — The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is accelerating its regional strategic initiatives across Africa, introducing programs aimed at fortifying local Internet infrastructure, expanding digital access, and elevating African representation in global governance.

Central to these efforts is the Coalition for Digital Africa. Initially launched at the Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa, the ICANN-coordinated coalition unites international and technical partners to lower connectivity costs and boost digital resilience across the continent. Operational highlights include:

• Infrastructure & Security: Deploying Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) across country code registries—including .ng, .cm, and .bf—while bolstering local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to keep regional traffic local and reduce latency.
• Policy Engagement: Partnering with regional bodies like Smart Africa to train lawmakers and government officials on digital economy frameworks and critical infrastructure security.

Alongside infrastructure upgrades, ICANN is addressing language barriers on the web through Universal Acceptance (UA) and Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). Technical readiness workshops are currently training developers and system administrators across the continent to support Email Address Internationalization (EAI), enabling seamless functionality for non-Latin scripts and local African languages.

To spur economic growth within the local tech sector, ICANN continues to conduct regional DNS Marketplace studies and provide targeted technical audits and business planning workshops for the African Top Level Domain Organization (AfTLD) and local domain registrars.

Africa’s participation in global policy formulation remains another key pillar. Through programs like the ICANN Fellowship, NextGen@ICANN, and the African Regional At-Large Organization (AFRALO), the institution is funding pathways for African technicians, civil society leaders, and university students to participate directly in global policy development.

Looking ahead, ICANN’s regional trajectory will be guided by its strategic roadmap, which prioritizes mitigating DNS abuse, expanding multistakeholder participation, and deepening ties with continental bodies such as the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and AFRINIC.

About Author

Dr. Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo

Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo is a Researcher, Media Psychologist, Brand and Content Expert. He is an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Fellow, Member of Association of Cyber Forensics and Threat Investigators (ACFTI), Associate Member of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and a Senior Member of Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy & Management (CIPDM), He is passionate for information and solutions for ICT Challenges by the media for the global village.

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