Zimbabwe had the most expensive mobile internet in Africa as of 2023. One gigabyte cost on average ***** U.S. dollars in the African country, the highest worldwide. Overall, the cost of mobile data varied significantly across the continent. South Sudan and the Central African Republic also recorded elevated prices for mobile data, positioning among the ** countries with the highest prices for data globally. By contrast, one gigabyte cost **** U.S. dollars in Malawi, the lowest average price registered in Africa. Determinants for high pricing On average, one gigabyte of mobile internet in Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to **** U.S. dollars in 2023, one of the highest worldwide, according to the source. In Northern Africa, the price for mobile data was far lower, **** U.S. dollars on average. Few factors influence the elevated prices of mobile data in Africa, such as high taxation and the lack of infrastructure. In 2021, around **** percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived within a range of ** kilometers from fiber networks. Mobile connectivity Over *** million people are estimated to be connected to the mobile internet in Africa as of 2022. The coverage gap has decreased in the continent but remained the highest worldwide in 2022. That year, ** percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived in areas not covered by a mobile broadband network. Additionally, the adoption of mobile internet is not equitable, as it is more accessible to men than women as well as more spread in urban than rural areas.

In 2023, the average cost of one gigabyte of mobile internet in Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to **** U.S. dollars, one of the highest worldwide, according to the source. In Northern Africa, the price for mobile data was far lower, **** U.S. dollars on average. Overall, the cost of mobile data varied greatly across Africa. Zimbabwe had the most expensive mobile internet on the continent, while Malawi recorded the cheapest average price.

As of February 2025, Morocco had an internet penetration of over 92 percent, making it the country with the highest internet penetration in Africa. Libya ranked second, with 88.5 percent, followed by Seychelles with over 87 percent. On the other hand, The Central African Republic, Chad, and Burundi had the lowest prevalence of internet among their population. Varying but growing levels of internet adoption Although internet usage varies significantly across African countries, the overall number of internet users on the continent jumped to around 646 million from close to 181 million in 2014. Of those, almost a third lived in Nigeria and Egypt only, two of the three most populous countries on the continent. Furthermore, internet users are expected to surge, reaching over 1.1 billion users by 2029. Mobile devices dominate web traffic Most internet adoptions on the continent occurred recently. This is among the reasons mobile phones increasingly play a significant role in connecting African populations. As of early January 2024, around 74 percent of the web traffic in Africa was via mobile phones, over 14 percentage points higher than the world average. Furthermore, almost all African countries have a higher web usage on mobile devices compared to other devices, with rates as high as 92 percent in Sudan. This is partly due to mobile connections being cheaper and not requiring the infrastructure needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections.

The ranking of internet costs in various countries shows significant differences, driven by economic, political, and infrastructure factors.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in South Africa cost, on average, 1.18 U.S. dollars in 2023. The country ranked 149 in 237 countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. Out of 46 plans measured in South Africa, the lowest price observed was 0.1 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.

As of February 2025, Southern Africa was the region with the highest internet penetration rate in Africa, at around ** percent. Furthermore, Northern Africa had a penetration rate of ** percent. The share of people using the internet in these regions of Africa was even above the world average (**** percent). In contrast, Middle and Eastern Africa recorded the lowest rates: **** percent and **** percent, respectively.

As of 2023, the highest average cost of fixed-line broadband in Africa was registered in Eritrea, at approximately ***** U.S. dollars per megabyte. This was roughly double the monthly price in Burundi, the African country with the second most expensive cost per megabyte (***** U.S. dollars). On the other hand, in Egypt and Réunion fixed-line broadband cost less than *** U.S. dollar for one megabyte. Overall, the ten countries with the highest fixed broadband prices were in Sub-Saharan Africa.

As of February 2025, **** percent of the population in Burundi did not have internet access. Chad followed, with around **** percent reportedly being offline. North Korea ranked first with an internet penetration of nearly **** percent, as the internet remains blocked for its citizens. Global internet freedom and access The degree of internet freedom varies drastically across countries, with some providing open access and others imposing significant restrictions. In 2024, Iceland was leading worldwide in terms of internet freedom, while Myanmar and China ranked the lowest in the world, with strict government surveillance and censorship. The struggle with limited internet access is particularly evident in Africa, which had the lowest internet penetration rates as of 2024. Global privacy concerns The limitations and restrictions to internet access around the world prove that internet users' privacy is extremely vulnerable. And those who have access to the web are somewhat aware of that. By the third quarter of 2024, around **** percent of internet users expressed concerns about companies misusing their data. This growing awareness of privacy risks is reflected in users’ behaviour. By June 2024, ***** in ***internet users worldwide had already taken measures to protect their online privacy. Additionally, many internet users reported taking further steps, such as enabling multi-factor authentication, for stronger privacy protections.

South Africa scored 100 points in the Africa e-Connectivity Index 2021, indicating that the country had the highest quality of internet connectivity on the continent. Mauritius and Egypt followed closely, with ***** points and ***** points, respectively. Closing the top five, Kenya and Tunisia scored respectively **** points and ***** points. To develop the ranking, the source assessed ** different indicators, including the number of mobile networks per country and the share of population covered by ** networks. According to the index, Eritrea had the lowest quality of internet connectivity, achieving only **** points.

Market Overview: The global Rural Internet System market is projected to reach USD XX million by 2033, exhibiting a remarkable CAGR of XX% during the forecast period (2025-2033). The rise in demand for reliable and affordable internet connectivity in rural areas, government initiatives to bridge the digital divide, and the proliferation of broadband technologies are key drivers of this growth. The market is segmented by type (DSL, Fixed Wireless, Wired Internet, Fiber Service, Satellite, Others) and application (Network Communication, Broadband Service, TV Media, Others). Competitive Landscape and Regional Analysis: Prominent players in the Rural Internet System market include Rise Broadband, Mediacom, Viasat, HughesNet, and Windstream Holdings. Competition is intense, with players focusing on expanding their infrastructure, offering innovative services, and leveraging strategic partnerships. Regionally, North America holds the dominant market share due to the early adoption of advanced broadband technologies. Europe and Asia Pacific are also expected to experience significant growth as governments invest in rural internet infrastructure. Emerging markets in Latin America and Africa offer promising opportunities for market expansion, driven by the growing need for connectivity and economic development initiatives.

One gigabyte of mobile data cost on average **** U.S. dollars in Sudan in 2023. The country had one of the cheapest mobile internet in Africa. Out of 40 plans measured in the country, the lowest price observed was **** U.S. dollars per ***, for a ** days plan. In the most expensive plan, *** cost **** U.S. dollars.

As of February 2025, Nigeria had 107 million internet users - the highest number reported all over Africa. Meanwhile, Egypt ranked second with over 96 million users. The majority of web traffic in leading digital markets in Africa originated from mobile devices - in Nigeria, one of the countries with the largest number of internet users worldwide, 86.2 percent of web traffic was generated via smartphones and roughly 13.3 percent via PC devices. This is due in part to the fact that mobile connections are much cheaper and do not require the infrastructure that is needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections. Anticipating remarkable growth: Africa's internet user surge and projected milestones The projected trend for Africa indicates a consistent rise in internet users from 2024 to 2029. It will have a collective addition of 337.3 million users (equivalent to a growth of 51.79 percent). Following fifteen successive years of growth, the user count is anticipated to reach a record high of 1.1 billion by 2029. Furthermore, the online penetration rate on the continent was 43 percent – which was below the global average, measured at around 68 percent. Unveiling internet trends The region has witnessed a steady increase in internet users over the years. In January 2024, Southern Africa stood out as the African region with the most substantial internet penetration rate, reaching approximately 73.1 percent. The proportion of individuals accessing the internet in this part of Africa and Northern Africa surpassed the global average (66.2 percent). Moreover, Morocco boasted an impressive internet penetration of about 91 percent, securing its position as Africa's foremost country. Libya held the second position with a penetration rate of approximately 88 percent, followed closely by Seychelles at around 86.7 percent.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Botswana cost, on average, 1.99 U.S. dollars in 2023. It registered one of the highest prices for mobile internet in Africa. Out of 22 plans measured in Botswana, the lowest price observed was 0.73 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 21.84 U.S. dollars.

Around four out of 10 people in Africa had internet access in December 2021. The online penetration rate on the continent was below the global average, measured at around 68 percent. According to Statista forecasts, the number of internet users in Africa increased to nearly 645 million in 2023, around 3.5 times more than in 2014. By 2029, over 1.1 billion individuals on the continent are expected to be connected to the internet. However, despite the rapid improvement in connectivity access, internet use in Africa remained the lowest worldwide.

The huge gap between African regions and countries

Inside Africa, internet access varies greatly. While nearly 70 percent of the population in the continent’s southern region was connected in 2023, the online penetration rate did not even reach 30 percent in both East and Central Africa. Likewise, connectivity differs drastically among countries. Morocco had an internet penetration of approximately 91 percent in 2024, the highest among African nations. On the other hand, only 11 percent of the population in The Central African Republic had access to an internet connection.

Mobile dominates web traffic in Africa

The predominant adoption of mobile devices has characterized internet use in Africa. In 2024, nearly 74 percent of the web traffic on the continent took place via mobile - more than in all other world regions. In Oceania, North America, and Europe, for instance, desktops still accounted for most of the online traffic. However, when it comes to mobile internet connectivity, Africa has been lagging behind. Below the Sahara, less than one-third of the population was connected to mobile internet services in 2021, against 55 percent worldwide.

This statistic shows the lowest average prices for 1 Mb of mobile data in Africa by country in the first quarter of 2016. The lowest average price for 1 Mb of mobile data in Malawi was 0.89 U.S. cents.

As of 2024, internet penetration in Europe was the highest among the world regions, growing from nearly 60 percent in 2009 to 91 percent in the latest measured year. Internet use in Africa was the lowest worldwide, at 38 percent. As of the same year, the total global internet reach translated to an estimated 4.9 billion internet users worldwide. Europe digital dominance Europe remains the most connected region globally, with steady growth in internet usage. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of internet users rose by 3 percent, and projected to reach 800 million by 2029. As of October 2024, Northern Europe was the first region worldwide by internet penetration, accounting for 97.5 percent penetration rate, while four of the six countries with the highest internet penetration rate worldwide are European, which highlights the region's dominance. Africa’s digital growth Internet use in Africa continues to grow, with mobile devices accounting for most of the web traffic across major African markets. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of internet users on the continent increased by nearly 13 percent, while the number of mobile internet users increased by 26 percent, reaching 331 million. As of January 2024, Morocco was leading with an impressive internet penetration rate of around 91 percent, while countries like Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa had the highest number of internet users in the continent.

The price of a fixed broadband package in South Africa averaged ***** U.S. dollars per month in 2023. In the same year, the highest price of a package reached almost ** U.S. dollars, while the lowest was around ***** U.S. dollars.

According to affordability reporting, Africa had the least affordable fixed broadband internet as of 2024, with a broadband service offering 5 gigabytes of data per month priced at around 13 percent of the continent's gross national income (GNI) per capita. Europe was reported to have had the most affordable services, followed by the Asia-Pacific region.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Namibia cost, on average, *** U.S. dollars in 2023. The country registered one of the highest prices for mobile internet in Africa. Out of 31 data plans measured in the country, the lowest price observed was *** U.S. dollars per ***, for ** days. In the most expensive plan, *** cost ***** U.S. dollars.

As of 2023, the average cost of fixed broadband packages in Africa was highest in Burundi, which reached approximately *** U.S. dollars. Zimbabwe came in second, with *** U.S. dollars. Overall, the ten countries with the highest fixed broadband package prices are in Sub-Saharan Africa.