When institutions across Africa adopted Microsoft Teams during the shift to remote learning, the promise was simple: world-class collaboration, anywhere. The reality is more nuanced — connectivity is uneven, devices are shared, and bandwidth is precious.
Platform adoption in this context is an infrastructure project more than a software rollout. It starts with realistic connectivity planning: bandwidth sizing, offline access, and low-bandwidth modes. It continues with identity — a usable single sign-on for thousands of students — and with training that treats digital skills as part of the curriculum, not an afterthought.
Can a global platform bridge the divide? Yes, but only when the work around it is local and pragmatic. The platform is the tool; the bridge is built by the engineers, administrators and educators who make it work for their specific context.
