Telkom SA Commits $6.1 Million To AI Skills Institute

South African telecommunications operator Telkom has committed $6.1 million (R100 million) towards the establishment of the Telkom AI Institute, a new initiative aimed at expanding artificial intelligence and digital skills development across South Africa.

The commitment was announced during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva through the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, which also marked a major milestone by surpassing US$100 billion in pledges towards global digital connectivity initiatives.

According to the ITU, the coalition has now exceeded the fundraising target it set for 2026 after launching the initiative in 2021. Telkom’s contribution was among several new commitments announced during the forum, alongside pledges from organisations including ZTE and SoftBank.

The proposed AI Institute will focus on providing practical artificial intelligence and digital skills training, particularly targeting young people, small businesses and underserved communities. Telkom said the initiative is intended to help prepare South Africans for an economy increasingly shaped by AI technologies while supporting broader digital inclusion efforts.

Commenting on the announcement, Telkom Group Chief Executive Officer Serame Taukobong said access to connectivity alone is no longer sufficient as countries adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies.

“Connectivity without capability only gets South Africa halfway there,” Taukobong said. “We have spent years building the networks that connect this country. The Telkom AI Institute is our commitment to ensuring that connectivity translates into skills, jobs and opportunity, starting with the South Africans who stand to gain the most and who have had the least access until now.”

Telkom has not yet disclosed details on how the institute will operate, including its implementation timeline, curriculum partners, physical locations or how the $6.1 million investment will be distributed. The commitment will be monitored through the ITU’s Partner2Connect platform alongside other global pledges.

Launched in September 2021, the ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition was established to mobilise investments aimed at expanding universal and meaningful connectivity worldwide. The initiative has attracted more than 1,000 pledges from governments, development agencies, private sector organisations and other stakeholders across 149 countries, with projects currently being implemented in more than 190 countries.

The ITU said Africa and the Asia-Pacific region account for the largest share of implementation activities, while digital infrastructure remains the biggest area of investment. Women continue to be the most frequently targeted beneficiaries of projects under the coalition.

Speaking at the forum, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, said the coalition’s latest milestone should now shift attention towards delivering measurable outcomes.

“Reaching USD 100 billion in Partner2Connect pledges is a defining milestone in our journey toward universal digital development. Now is the time to turn these pledges into impactful projects, aligning countries’ and regional priorities with partner commitments,” he said.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin described the achievement as “a landmark achievement in global efforts towards universal meaningful connectivity.”

Despite reaching the US$100 billion mark, the ITU estimates that achieving universal and meaningful connectivity by 2030 will require between US$2.6 trillion and US$2.8 trillion globally, highlighting the scale of investment still needed to bridge the digital divide.

For South Africa, Telkom’s latest commitment reflects a growing emphasis on digital skills alongside network expansion. While infrastructure investment remains central to improving connectivity, governments and telecommunications operators are increasingly recognising that equipping people with the skills needed to participate in the digital economy is becoming equally important.