One gigabyte of mobile internet in Ethiopia costs, on average, 0.68 U.S. dollar in 2023. The country ranked 69 in 237 countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. Out of nine plans measured in Ethiopia, the lowest price observed was 0.11 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.

In 2023, the price of a fixed broadband package in Ethiopia averaged about 27.4 U.S. dollars per month. The highest price of a package reached almost 87 U.S. dollars, while the lowest was roughly 11.4 U.S. dollars.

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.

Internet shutdowns cost some *** billion U.S. dollars to Nigeria in 2021, by far the highest economic impact caused by such disruptions in African countries. In June that year, the Nigerian government suspended Twitter, after the platform deleted a tweet by president Muhammadu Buhari under allegations of rules violation. The ban ended around six months later, in January 2022, when the social media company agreed on establishing a legal entity in Nigeria and paying taxes in the country, among other conditions. In Ethiopia, an ongoing internet blackout on the conflicting Tigray region, associated with episodes of social media shutdowns, resulted in the total loss of ***** million U.S dollars - eight times more than Nigeria's loss, for instance.

Characteristics of common mode of internet for smartphone and social media access and experience of Dilla and Hawassa university undergraduate students, Ethiopia, 2021 (N = 1,232).

The Kenyan telecom market, valued at $3.79 billion in 2025, exhibits a steady growth trajectory, projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.24% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is fueled by increasing smartphone penetration, rising data consumption driven by the popularity of social media and streaming services, and the expanding mobile money ecosystem. The market is segmented primarily into voice services (both wired and wireless), data and messaging services, and Over-The-Top (OTT) and PayTV services. Key players like Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya dominate the landscape, with significant competition from smaller players like Equitel and Zuku, vying for market share through innovative offerings and competitive pricing strategies. Growth is further influenced by government initiatives promoting digital inclusion and infrastructure development, although challenges such as the cost of data and infrastructure limitations in remote areas continue to pose constraints. The increasing adoption of 4G and the gradual rollout of 5G networks are expected to significantly influence data consumption patterns and further fuel market expansion in the coming years. The competitive landscape is characterized by intense rivalry, prompting service providers to continuously enhance their service offerings, expand network coverage, and leverage strategic partnerships to maintain a competitive edge. Growth in the data and OTT segments is particularly noteworthy, reflecting a shifting consumer preference towards digital content consumption. This trend is further supported by a young and tech-savvy population increasingly reliant on mobile devices for communication, entertainment, and financial transactions. While the market presents considerable opportunities, sustaining profitability requires companies to adapt to evolving consumer demands, manage operating costs, and navigate regulatory challenges effectively. The successful players will be those capable of optimizing network efficiency, strategically investing in infrastructure upgrades, and leveraging innovative business models to cater to the diverse needs of the Kenyan consumer base. Recent developments include: October 2024: Safaricom has expanded its M-PESA Global service to include Ethiopia, enabling users to transfer mobile money from Kenya to Ethiopia. With this growth, the two companies strive to enhance the utilization and reach of mobile money in Ethiopia, which can help stimulate local economies and provide new prospects for people and businesses in the area. This partnership reflects our dedication to providing creative financial options that meet the changing demands of our clients.September 2024: Axian Telecom was reportedly looking to acquire Kenya-based mobile, internet and TV provider Wananchi Group., The Standard reported according to files made with regulator Comesa Competition Commission, Axian Telecom subsidiary Axian Telecom Fibre is looking to acquire 99.63% of Wananchi. It trades under the Zuku brand offering TV, broadband and mobile across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia.. Key drivers for this market are: Rising demand for 4G and 5G services, Growth of IoT usage in Telecom. Potential restraints include: Rising demand for 4G and 5G services, Growth of IoT usage in Telecom. Notable trends are: The Demand for 4G and 5G Services is Rising.

The population share with internet access in Kenya was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 42 percentage points. After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the internet penetration is estimated to reach 98 percent and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the population share with internet access of was continuously increasing over the past years.The penetration rate refers to the share of the total population having access to the internet via any means. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide. All input data are sourced from international institutions, national statistical offices, and trade associations. All data has been are processed to generate comparable datasets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the population share with internet access in countries like Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.