Frédéric Schepens previously served as Bayobab CEO.

Frédéric Schepens, former CEO of Bayobab Group, will spend the next five months working on his doctorate at WestFord University together with the University of Murcia (UCAM), where he will conduct research on enhancing digital infrastructure efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The vice chair of the board of the ITW Global Leaders' Forum (GLF), a global network of telecom executives, said he started his doctoral studies a year and half ago.

Schepens announced on his LinkedIn page that this initiative aligns with UCAM’s expertise and his personal quest in enhancing digital infrastructure on the African continent and accelerating digital transformation.

He explained why his research journey is important, saying: “Sub-Saharan Africa has seen 160 million new broadband users since 2019 according to the World Bank, driven by landmark projects like the new subsea cables, East2West routes crossing the continent and $2.8 billion in active digital development investments.

“Yet, challenges persist achieving universal internet access requires $100 billion in infrastructure funding (Whitecase), and an estimation of 1% connectivity increase could boost regional GDP by 6% in certain regions. My work will focus on reducing inefficiencies in infrastructure deployment to bridge these gaps and foster sustainable growth.

"Grateful for the chance to contribute to a future where digital access empowers communities and economies.”