Telkom Pledges Nearly R100 Million to Launch AI Institute for Digital Skills Development
Telkom Pledges Nearly R100 Million to Launch AI Institute for Digital Skills Development. Telkom has committed close to R100 million to establish the Telkom AI Institute, a new initiative designed to equip South Africans with artificial intelligence and digital skills as demand for technology capabilities continues to grow.
The announcement was made during the World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2026 in Geneva as part of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. The coalition has now secured more than $82 billion in global commitments aimed at expanding digital connectivity, with Telkom among a limited number of South African and African organisations recognised in the latest round of pledges.
According to Telkom, the institute will provide practical, job-ready training in artificial intelligence and digital skills. The programme will place particular emphasis on supporting young people, small businesses and underserved communities.
Telkom Group chief executive Serame Taukobong said the country’s digital divide extends beyond internet access and increasingly includes the ability to participate in an economy shaped by artificial intelligence.
“Connectivity without capability only gets South Africa halfway there,” said Taukobong.
“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.”
The company said the institute forms part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to expand Telkom’s role beyond telecommunications infrastructure by investing in digital skills development.
The ITU said the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has attracted more than 1,000 pledges from 149 countries since its launch in 2021. According to the organisation, projects are currently under way in more than 190 countries, with Africa and the Asia-Pacific region accounting for the largest share of implementation. The ITU also noted that digital infrastructure continues to represent the biggest area of investment within the initiative.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, said surpassing $82 billion in commitments represents an important milestone for the coalition.
He added that the focus is now shifting towards implementing projects that expand meaningful digital connectivity around the world.
Through its latest commitment, Telkom is positioning the AI Institute as part of its broader efforts to support digital skills development and prepare more South Africans for opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven economy and future workforce demands.
