Digital Readiness and Institutional Development in Sub-Saharan Africa A Descriptive Approach to Exploring Its Impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Abstract:
   This study seeks to analyze the level of digital readiness across five Sub-Saharan African countriesو Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Senegalو and explore its potential implications for the development environment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Adopting a descriptive–analytical approach, this study employs the Mobile Connectivity Index (MCI) developed by the GSMA, which comprises four standardized dimensions: infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness, and content and services. The study utilizes a time series spanning 2014–2023 and applies tools, including descriptive statistics, trend and gap analysis, correlation matrix, and inferential reading, to examine the indirect relationship between digital readiness and institutional empowerment. The findings reveal significant disparities among countries and indicator dimensions, with consumer readiness and local content emerging as the factors most strongly correlated with the overall index. The study concludes with a call for integrated digital policies that reflect local institutional contexts and prioritize investments in skills and knowledge ecosystems, rather than focusing solely on physical infrastructure.