The digital sector is entering a pivotal period. To seize all opportunities, a legal framework overhaul is necessary to achieve scaling. Jonah Andrianantoanina, economist and founder of the CREM, shares his analysis.
The Malagasy digital landscape has changed significantly. Over twenty years, the connected population has grown from 1% in 2005 to over 20% in 2025, according to a recent GSMA report. However, the regulatory framework lags behind: the Great Island still relies on a 2005 text to govern the digital and internet sector.
‘The law still in force is completely outdated. It dates back to 2005: few people used the internet then, and today’s connected smartphones did not exist,’ explains Jonah Andrianantoanina, economist and founder of the Circle of Reflection of Economists of Madagascar (CREM).
The academic notes: ‘Madagascar is already present in the AI value chain through data annotation: most of the training data preparation for French AI companies is done here.’ According to the economist, Madagascar’s digital presence must expand to other sectors. ‘The country still accounts for less than 0.1% of AI-related job offers and code in Africa, so there is significant room for growth. But without accessible internet for all, these assets will remain in vain.’
The government aims to pass a new digital sector bill. Submitted in late August 2026, Bill No. 040/2026 on electronic communications and digital infrastructure is set to be reviewed during the current parliamentary session.
For Andrianantoanina, the stakes of this legislative reform go beyond telecoms: it concerns growth, employment, and the Great Island’s position in the race for artificial intelligence. He estimates that this reform could add approximately 4 trillion Ariary to the GDP by 2031 and create some 330,000 digital-related jobs, transforming all sectors, including agriculture.
Captured & Published at: 2026-11-03 05:53:36 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/11/jonah-andrianantoanina-le-secteur-du.html
