Nearly every African country has partnered with the Chinese company Huawei for either smartphone distribution or network infrastructure.

Nearly 12 years ago, Global Crossing announced plans to build a 39,000km, $1.6 billion fibre-optic cable around Africa. The project was slated to be completed in three years.

By today’s financial standards, USAID’s Leland Initiative looks minuscule. How far can US $15 million go to connect not one, but twenty nations over five years? Divide this sum up and each country is left with $150,000 per year. Still, the emphasis on local African content is impressive given the …

Direct Link to Timeline
The interactive timeline above lists the vast majority of Microsoft’s actions on the African continent. The shift from South Africa to other nations is apparent in recent years, as are the efforts to combat piracy and defend the practice of licensing. Click on a title to view …