Mekuria, FissehaMzyece, MMfupe, Luzango POdusola, A2022-02-112022-02-112021-09Mekuria, F., Mzyece, M., Mfupe, L.P. & Odusola, A. 2021. Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270 .978-1-6654-1984-0978-1-6654-1983-3978-1-6654-4748-5DOI: 10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570984http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270Innovation on sustainable ICT technologies to realize affordable broadband connectivity for rural and underserved communities is a crucial component of the effort to achieve the aim of "leaving no one behind by 2030" as championed by the United Nations. Digital connectivity and the creation of a digital entrepreneurial rural ecosystem (DERE) are two interconnected interventions necessary to achieve digital inclusion with rural communities as the main target. This paper defines the ecosystem components for the DERE, which include affordable broadband, sustainable business models and co-creation of relevant ICT services involving beneficiary rural communities. This framework presents a proof of concept on rural SMEs-driven digital inclusion being implemented at four sites in South Africa.AbstractenAffordable broadbandBusiness model innovationDigitalizationDigital transformationConference PresentationMekuria, F., Mzyece, M., Mfupe, L. P., & Odusola, A. (2021). Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270Mekuria, Fisseha, M Mzyece, Luzango P Mfupe, and A Odusola. "Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa." <i>2021 IEEE AFRICON, Arusha, Tanzania, 13-15 September 2021</i> (2021): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270Mekuria F, Mzyece M, Mfupe LP, Odusola A, Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa; 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Mekuria, Fisseha AU - Mzyece, M AU - Mfupe, Luzango P AU - Odusola, A AB - Innovation on sustainable ICT technologies to realize affordable broadband connectivity for rural and underserved communities is a crucial component of the effort to achieve the aim of "leaving no one behind by 2030" as championed by the United Nations. Digital connectivity and the creation of a digital entrepreneurial rural ecosystem (DERE) are two interconnected interventions necessary to achieve digital inclusion with rural communities as the main target. This paper defines the ecosystem components for the DERE, which include affordable broadband, sustainable business models and co-creation of relevant ICT services involving beneficiary rural communities. This framework presents a proof of concept on rural SMEs-driven digital inclusion being implemented at four sites in South Africa. DA - 2021-09 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR J1 - 2021 IEEE AFRICON, Arusha, Tanzania, 13-15 September 2021 KW - Affordable broadband KW - Business model innovation KW - Digitalization KW - Digital transformation LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2021 SM - 978-1-6654-1984-0 SM - 978-1-6654-1983-3 SM - 978-1-6654-4748-5 T1 - Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa TI - Affordable connectivity and digital entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12270 ER -25303