AFRICA CONNECT ALLIANCE FRAMEWORK
SECTION 1: PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES
1.1 Purpose
The Africa Connect Alliance is the Foundation's digital inclusion framework. It ensures that every African, regardless of income or location, has access to essential digital services while creating a sustainable market for internet connectivity.
The Alliance is not charity. It is a market expansion strategy that benefits telAsta , ISPs, governments, citizens, CDEs, and the Foundation.
1.2 Core Principles
- Leave No One Behind — Every African has access to essential digital services. Communication, education, health, and government services are accessible to all.
- TelAsta Are the Default Face — TelAsta remain the primary interface for users. They keep their customers, their brands, and their revenue streams. The Foundation does not compete.
- Local ISPs Are the Digital CDE Partners — Local ISPs provide bandwidth for rural and underserved areas. Digital CDEs strike deals with ISPs to deliver free essential access.
- Free Essential Access — Text-based communication, education portals, health information, and government services are available to all citizens at nocost.
- Premium Choice — Full internet access is available through Tier 2 (Premium) subscriptions. Users choose to upgrade.
- Partnership, Not Disruption — TelAsta , ISPs, governments, and CDEs are partners. The Foundation provides the platform and coordination.
- Sustainability — The Alliance generates revenue through Tier 2 subscriptions, transactions, and Credits usage. It is self-sustaining.
- Ubuntu — No one is left behind. The poorest have access. The wealthy pay for more. Everyone benefits.
SECTION 2: THE THREE-TIER MODEL
- 1 Tier 1 - Always Free (Essential Services)
| Element | Detail |
| Who | All citizens |
| What They Get | Limited to Jowih Asta Text-based communication (messaging, scrolling feeds), education portals, health information, government services, basic wallet |
| Asta t | $0 |
| Who Provides Bandwidth | TelAsta (Mobile Sim), Local ISPs (rural, via CDE partnerships) |
| How Providers Earn | CDE contracts (fixed fees), transaction fees, gift sending, wallet usage, increased customer base |
| How Foundation Earns | Data insights,Ecosystem growth, Credits circulation |
- 2 Tier 2 - Premium (Full Jowih Asta Access)
| Element | Detail |
| Who | Citizens who choose to upgrade |
| What They Get | Full Access to Jowih Asta features |
| Asta t | Normal market rate (calibrated to local income tiers) |
| Who Provides Bandwidth | TelAsta , Local ISPs (rural, via CDE partnerships) |
| How Providers Earn | Full subscription revenue. They keep 100% of their competitive standard charges. |
| How Foundation Earns | No direct share. Revenue comes from increasedEcosystem activity, Credits usage, and transaction volumes. |
- 3 Tier 3 - Partners
| Element | Detail |
| Who | TelAsta , ISPs, governments, CDEs, developers |
| What They Get | Access to the platform, user base, data insights, revenue opportunities |
| How They Earn | TelAsta earn from subscriptions and transactions. ISPs earn from CDE contracts and Tier 2 subscriptions. Governments earn from economic activity and taxes. CDEs earn from community internet services and revenue share. Developers earn from building on the platform. |
| How Foundation Earns | Revenue share from developers,Ecosystem growth. |
SECTION 3: THE TELCO ROLE
3.1 Default Face of the Jowih Asta
TelAsta are the primary interface for users. The Jowih Asta carries their branding. Users see their telco's name, logo, and services. This reinforces brand loyalty and customer retention.
3.2 Connected Services
TelAsta connect all their existing services through the Jowih Asta wallet:
| Service | How It Works |
| P2P Transfers | Users send money to each other through the telco's connected app |
| Bills Payment | Users pay bills through the telco's connected app |
| Physical Payments | Users pay at shops and merchants through the telco's connected app |
| Wallet Transactions | Users hold and send money through the telco's connected wallet |
TelAsta keep their customers and their revenue. Nothing is lost.
3.3 Customer Base Expansion
TelAsta gain access to new users through:
Free Tier 1 access attracting new customers and the need to access full Jowih Asta features pushes need for tier 2
Digital CDEs expanding reach to rural areas
Government partnerships connecting citizens to services
TelAsta retain their existing customers and gain new ones. Their market share grows.
3.4 Transaction Revenue
TelAsta earn from:
Wallet transactions (,P2P, payments, bills)
Gift sending if involves money (money + messages)
Credits conversions (where partnered)
Increased usage from new and existing customers
SECTION 4: THE LOCAL ISP ROLE
4.1 Default Partner of Digital CDEs
Local ISPs are the primary partners for Digital CDEs in rural and underserved areas. They provide bandwidth for Tier 1 (Free Essential Access) and Tier 2 (Full Internet).
4.2 The CDE-ISP Partnership
| Element | Detail |
| Who | Digital CDE + Local ISP |
| What | ISP provides bandwidth to the community. CDE manages the community interface. |
| Tier 1 (Free) | CDE pays ISP a fixed monthly fee for rural free access to Jowih Asta |
| Tier 2 (Paid) | Citizens pay for full internet outside Jowih Asta . Revenue shared between CDE and ISP. |
| Installation | Asta ts shared between CDE and ISP (negotiated) |
| Duration | Long-term agreement .Renewed |
4.3 Financial Model
| Revenue Source | Who Pays | Who Earns |
| Tier 1 (Free) | CDE (Foundation-funded) pays ISP fixed fee | ISP earns guaranteed monthly revenue |
| Tier 2 (Paid) | Citizens pay for full internet | ISP and CDE share revenue where sharedcost |
| Installation | Sharedcost between CDE and ISP | ISP earns through long-term contract |
4.4 Benefits to ISPs
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
| Guaranteed Revenue | Fixed monthly fee from CDE for Tier 1 bandwidth |
| New Customers | Tier 2 subscribers in areas they would not otherwise reach |
| Long-Term Contracts | Stable, predictable income |
| Community Reach | Access to underserved communities |
| Government Recognition | Partner in digital inclusion |
4.5 Benefits to CDEs
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
| Mission Delivery | Communities get free essential access |
| Revenue Stream | Tier 2 subscriptions generate income |
| Sustainability | CDEs become self-sustaining |
| Community Trust | CDEs are seen as community champions |
SECTION 5: THE DIGITAL CDE ROLE
5.1 Expanding Internet Access
Digital CDEs deploy community internet infrastructure in rural areas. They provide last-mile connectivity where telAsta and ISPs cannot profitably reach.
| What CDEs Do | Why It Matters |
| Partner with Local ISPs | Strike deals for bandwidth. Share installationcosts. |
| Community Internet | Deploy WiFi hotspots, mesh networks, shared access points |
| Device Access | Provide affordable devices (phones, tablets) for community use |
| Training | Train citizens on digital literacy and Jowih Asta usage |
| Local Content | Create local content in local languages |
| Revenue Generation | Earn from community subscriptions and transaction fees |
5.2 The CDE-ISP Agreement
| Clause | What It Does |
| Bandwidth Commitment | ISP commits to provide sufficient bandwidth for free Jowih Asta Access |
| Fixed Fee | CDE pays ISP a fixed monthly fee the bandwidth |
| Tier 2 Revenue Share | CDE and ISP agree on revenue share for Tier 2 (Full Internet) subscriptions |
| Installationcosts | Shared between CDE and ISP (negotiated) |
| Service Level Agreement | ISP guarantees uptime, speed, and reliability |
| Expansion | ISP supports CDE in expanding coverage to new communities |
| Term | Long-term agreement , to ensure stability,Renewable |
5.3 Revenue Model
| Revenue Source | How It Works |
| Tier 1 (Free) | CDE pays ISP fixed monthly fee (Foundation-funded) for full Access on Jowih Asta |
| Tier 2 (Subscriptions) | Citizens pay for full internet. Revenue shared between CDE and ISP. |
| Government Partnerships | Governments pay for community connectivity |
| Foundation Support | Seed funding and technical assistance |
CDEs become self-sustaining businesses.
5.4 Coverage Expansion
Digital CDEs ensure that:
Rural communities are connected
No one is left behind
ISPs gain customers they would never reach alone
TelAsta gain customers as rural users eventually upgrade
The Foundation delivers on its mission of inclusion
SECTION 6: THE CITIZEN EXPERIENCE
- 1 Tier 1 - Free Essential Access with TelAsta
| Service | What Users Get |
| Communication | Text-based messaging. Scrolling feeds. No images or video. |
| Education | Access to school portals. Text-based learning materials. Exam results. |
| Health | Health information. Appointment booking. Medication reminders. |
| Government | Access to government services. Application forms. Notifications. |
| Wallet | Basic wallet for payments, P2P transfers, gifts, and Credits. |
Citizens pay nothing for Tier 1. They are never excluded.
Tier 1 access between CDE and local ISP means free Access to Jowih Asta features,The CDEs and ISP strike deals and depending on sharedcost or agreements the CDEs pays fixed monthly fee for the bandwidth.
- 2 Tier 2 - Premium
Users who choose to upgrade pay the normal market rate to their telco or ISP. They get full access to Jowih Asta this is on Telco partnership: Tier 2 in local ISP means full Access to internet outside the Jowih Asta
6.3 The Jowih Asta Wallet
| Feature | Detail |
| Hold Money | Users hold money in their telco wallet |
| Send Money | Users send P2P payments |
| Pay Bills | Users pay utility bills |
| Pay Merchants | Users pay at shops and merchants |
| Send Gifts | Users send money and messages as gifts |
| Hold Credits | Users hold Jowih Credits in their wallet |
| Convert Credits | Users convert Credits to local currency |
TelAsta and ISPs process transactions. They earn fees. The Foundation earns through Credits circulation andEcosystem activity.
SECTION 7: THE FOUNDATION ROLE
7.1 Platform Provider
The Foundation provides the Jowih Asta . It coordinates theEcosystem. It ensures technical reliability and security.
- 2Ecosystem Coordinator
The Foundation brings together:
TelAsta (providing connectivity and services)
ISPs (providing bandwidth and connectivity)
Governments (providing regulatory support and services)
Digital CDEs (expanding reach)
Developers (building on the platform)
7.3 Revenue Streams
| Revenue Source | Detail |
| Credits Fees | Conversion fees, transaction fees, settlement fees |
| Developer Revenue Share | Revenue share from developers building on the platform |
| Data Insights | Aggregated data insights sold to governments and partners |
| Transaction Fees | Small fees on credits transactions andEcosystem activity |
SECTION 8: THE GOVERNMENT ROLE
8.1 Regulatory Support
Governments provide:
Regulatory approval for the Alliance
Support for CDE expansion
Integration of government services into the Jowih Asta
8.2 Service Delivery
Governments integrate their services into the Jowih Asta :
Application forms
Notifications
Payments
Health services
Education portals
8.3 Benefits to Governments
| Benefit | Detail |
| Digital Inclusion | Citizens access services digitally. No infrastructure investment needed. |
| Service Delivery Efficiency | Faster, cheaper, more transparent service delivery. |
| Economic Activity | Increased economic activity through digital transactions. |
| Tax Revenue | Economic activity generates taxes. Formalization of informal economy. |
| Data Insights | Aggregated data for policy planning and monitoring. |
SECTION 9: THE REVENUE FLOW
- 1 Tier 1 (Free Essential Access)
| What Happens | Who Benefits |
| Citizens access free Jowih Asta | Citizens get essential services |
| CDE pays ISP fixed monthly fee | ISP earns guaranteed revenue |
| TelAsta process transactions | TelAsta earn transaction fees |
| Citizens use wallet | TelAsta earn from usage |
| Foundation coordinates | Foundation earns fromEcosystem growth |
- 2 Tier 2 (Premium Subscriptions)
| What Happens | Who Benefits |
| Users pay telco/ISP for full internet | Provider earns subscription revenue |
| Provider keeps 100% of subscription | Provider retains all revenue |
| Users access full internet and Jowih Asta | Users get full service |
| Foundation earns from increasedEcosystem activity | Foundation benefits from growth |
9.3 Wallet Transactions
| What Happens | Who Benefits |
| Users send money, pay bills, pay merchants | TelAsta /ISPs earn transaction fees |
| Users send gifts (money + messages) | Providers earn on money processing |
| Users convert Credits | Foundation earns conversion fees |
| Users hold Credits | Foundation benefits fromEcosystem growth |
9.4 Developer Revenue Share
| What Happens | Who Benefits |
| Developers build on the Jowih Asta | Developers earn from their apps |
| Users access developer apps | Foundation earns revenue share |
| More apps attract more users | EAsta ystem grows |
SECTION 10: WHY THIS WORKS FOR EVERYONE
| Stakeholder | What They Gain |
| TelAsta | Default face. Keep customers. New customers. Transaction revenue. Credits integration. No competition.Tier two revenue. |
| Local ISPs | Guaranteed revenue from CDE contracts. New customers. Long-term partnerships. |
| Digital CDEs | Mission delivery. Revenue from Tier 2. Sustainable business model. Community trust. |
| Citizens | Free essential access. Choice to upgrade. Digital inclusion. No one left behind. |
| Governments | Digital inclusion without capitalcost. Service delivery efficiency. Tax revenue. Data insights. |
| Foundation | Mission delivery. Revenue.Ecosystem lock-in. Data sovereignty. |
SECTION 11: THE STRATEGIC LOGIC
11.1 What the Alliance Creates
| What It Creates | Why It Matters |
| Massive User Base | 500M+ Tier 1 users become potential Tier 2 customers |
| Recurring Revenue | Tier 2 subscriptions generate steady income |
| Data Sovereignty | African-owned infrastructure, African-controlled data |
| Digital Inclusion | No one is left behind |
| Ubuntu | The philosophy is operationalized |