The internet today is more than a conduit of information; it is the lifeblood of economic growth, a platform for civic engagement, and the backbone of innovation. In Africa, where the median age is just 19, the internet represents more than connectivity; it symbolises a lifeline to opportunity, education, global markets, and democratic participation. Despite this potential, some parts of the continent finds itself tangled web of infrastructural, political, and economic challenges that shape, and often limit, access to this critical resource.
As of early 2024, only 38% of Africa’s population had access to the internet, far behind the global average of 68%, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Regions such as Europe and North America boast penetration rates exceeding 90%. This divide is not merely a digital inconvenience; it is a developmental chasm that widens socioeconomic disparities and keeps millions on the margins of the modern economy.
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Although digital access across Africa is steadily improving, in real terms, over 700 million Africans remain offline, cut off from telehealth, remote learning, e-commerce, and online civic participation. High internet costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited digital literacy, especially in rural regions, continue to impede widespread connectivity.
Critical is digital literacy. Millions of Africans, particularly in rural areas, lack the basic skills to utilise the internet effectively. Without robust training programmes and community-based learning hubs, broadband expansion risks being a hollow promise.
Affordability is another key challenge. As of 2024, a basic 2GB mobile data plan consumes about 4.2% of the average monthly income, more than double the UN’s affordability threshold of 2%. Fixed broadband is even more prohibitive, with the average household spending close to 15% of its income, placing reliable home internet well beyond the reach of many families.
For most Africans, mobile broadband is the main gateway to the internet. Yet, 14% of the population remains completely unconnected, a figure that climbs to 25% in rural areas. While around 70% of the population have access to 4G networks, a significant number, 16%, still rely on older 3G infrastructure, and only 11% have access to faster 5G networks, predominantly in urban centres.
Infrastructure and Investment
Africa’s internet story is not one of stagnation but of fierce and uneven evolution. Major infrastructural projects are redefining the continent’s digital map. Among them is the 2Africa submarine cable, a 45,000-kilometre marvel developed by a consortium led by Meta. When completed, it will connect 33 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia with an unprecedented capacity of 180 terabits per second, promising to double Africa’s internet capacity and drastically improve latency and speed.
Meanwhile, Google’s Equiano cable, stretching from Portugal to South Africa, landed in multiple West African nations throughout 2023 and early 2024, bringing with it transformative internet speeds and reduced bandwidth costs. In countries like Togo, Equiano has reportedly slashed internet prices by up to 20% and boosted speeds fivefold, according to a study by Africa Practice and Converge Network Digest.
But cables alone don’t tell the full story. Terrestrial infrastructure is just as critical. South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt have made major strides in expanding 4G and 5G networks. MTN South Africa’s November 2024 launch of the $138 “Icon 5G” smartphone marked a landmark move toward democratising high-speed access for the lower-income population. Vumatel, a private fibre-optic provider, is offering free 1 Gbps fibre internet to hundreds of schools, signalling a targeted investment in youth access and educational equity.
The Price of Connection
While the pipes and signals reach deeper than ever, the cost of internet access remains a major stumbling block. According to the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), by the end of 2024, a basic mobile data plan (2GB per month) in Africa will cost 4.2% of the average gross national income (GNI) per capita, more than twice the UN Broadband Commission’s affordability target of 2%.
Fixed broadband fares are even worse. In countries like Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, prices can soar to more than 20% of monthly income, making it a luxury for the elite. This reality not only underscores economic exclusion but also threatens to deepen digital inequality between urban and rural populations.
The Politics of Access
A few governments across the continent have, with increasing frequency, weaponised the internet as a tool of control. The year 2024 marked a record 21 government-imposed internet shutdowns across 15 African countries, according to Access Now’s Internet Shutdown Tracker.
The most disruptive was in Sudan, where a protracted internet blackout during political unrest lasted over 12,700 hours, costing the economy an estimated $1.12 billion, based on calculations. In Ethiopia, restricted access during military operations in Tigray and Oromia regions was used to mute opposition voices and hinder journalistic reporting.
Such actions expose a fundamental tension in African digital policy: the struggle between open, inclusive internet access and authoritarian tendencies toward information control. These shutdowns not only suppress dissent but also stifle digital entrepreneurship, deter foreign investment, and limit access to essential services like banking and emergency communication.
Success Stories in the Shadow of Setbacks
Within the complexity of challenges there are also promising narratives. Mauritius stands out as a continental benchmark. With an average broadband speed of 97.31 Mbps and nearly universal 4G coverage, Mauritius has capitalised on strategic investment and strong regulatory frameworks to become a regional tech hub.
Rwanda, often lauded for its digital ambitions, continues to push boundaries with its Smart Rwanda Master Plan, aiming to digitise everything from agriculture to governance. With support from the World Bank and private players like Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Rwanda’s government has expanded fibre coverage to over 95% of its districts, positioning the nation as a digital incubator in East Africa.
In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, the narrative is more mixed. Despite having over 103 million internet users, broadband penetration remains just 44.43%, and 42% of users still rely on 2G networks. Only 2.4% currently enjoy access to 5G services. However, the country’s tech industry remains vibrant, with Lagos emerging as one of Africa’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems. Government efforts to expand the National Broadband Plan, which aims for 70% broadband penetration by 2025, offer cautious optimism.
Digital Sovereignty: A Double-Edged Sword
There’s a rising sentiment in African leadership around digital sovereignty, the right of states to control their own digital destiny. This involves not just regulating tech giants like Google and Meta but also building homegrown alternatives. While digital sovereignty can protect citizens from external exploitation, it must not be a veil for surveillance and censorship.
Countries like Kenya and Ghana have started investing in data localisation policies, encouraging companies to store user data within national borders. This could stimulate local tech ecosystems and increase trust in digital platforms. However, it must be balanced with regional interoperability to avoid fragmenting Africa’s digital economy into isolated silos.
Towards Equitable and Open Connectivity
The path to an inclusive digital future in Africa demands more than optimism; it requires strategic collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society. Public-private partnerships, like those seen in Kenya’s Konza Technopolis or Ethiopia’s Ethio Telecom liberalisation, showcase what is possible when political will aligns with market opportunity.
If the continent can ensure that access is affordable, open, politically neutral, and supported by indigenous innovation, it will not only connect its people but empower them to leapfrog into the future. The battle for bandwidth, then, is not just about megabytes; it is about dignity, autonomy, and the power to participate fully in the 21st century.
