Madagascar officially launched a national program on February 21 to sell 664,000 subsidized digital devices, with 400,000 units specifically reserved for women and girls.
The initiative aims to widen access to digital terminals, narrow the digital divide and promote sustainable digital inclusion, particularly among women and young people, according to the source.
The government has organized the rollout through a network of nine contracted official distributors to ensure transparency, make equipment accessible and gradually extend coverage nationwide, including rural communities.
The program falls under the “Affordable Digital Equipment” component of the $24 million Digital and Energy Connectivity for Inclusion in Madagascar (DECIM) fund.
Authorities first introduced the initiative in April 2025 as part of a broader plan to drive socio-economic growth through digital transformation.
The strategy is guided by the Digitization Strategic Plan (PSN) 2023–2028, which outlines the country’s ambition to position itself as a leading player in Africa’s digital economy.
The roadmap prioritizes telecommunications development, e-government services and digital inclusion. Officials project that the digital sector will contribute 6% to GDP by 2028, up from 1.5% in 2019.
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Despite these efforts, Madagascar continues to grapple with a significant digital gap. Data from the International Telecommunication Union show that only 18.7% of the population used the Internet in 2024.
The World Bank estimates the country’s population at 32.9 million. According to the GSMA, smartphone affordability remains a key obstacle to Internet adoption, even in areas with network coverage, although devices are now available for under $100.
Even so, the program’s scale remains limited compared to the number of people still excluded from digital services. Authorities have yet to announce additional phases or provide a detailed expansion timeline.
Moreover, access to smartphones alone does not automatically translate into meaningful digital adoption. Network availability remains uneven.
ITU figures indicate that by the end of 2023, 2G and 3G networks covered 88.5% and 69.2% of the population respectively.
In 2024, 4G coverage reached 34.6%, while 5G coverage stood at just 6.12%.
High Internet costs, limited digital literacy, security concerns, network quality and questions about the relevance of digital services for certain communities continue to slow uptake.
While improved digital infrastructure can boost productivity, subsidizing devices addresses only one part of a broader structural challenge that also involves connectivity, affordability and trust in digital ecosystems.
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