According to the World Economic Forum, despite having the fastest internet speed in the continent, South Africa is still well below the global average. South Africa’s average download speed is cited at 68.9 megabit per second (mbps). This is shy of the average global download speed of 77.7 mbps.
However, the growth rate of internet traffic in South Africa is currently around 442 000%. This means that the number of South Africans who regularly go online has doubled in the last decade. Currently, 70% of South Africans have internet access.
Digital quality of life rankings
In addition, according to the 2022 Digital Quality of Life Index, South Africa came 66th out of 117 countries considered. This was in terms of a few different aspects – electronic security, infrastructure and government, as well as internet quality and affordability.
The countries that scored the highest on the index were Israel, followed by the previous top performer, Denmark, followed by Germany and then France and Sweden. South Africa’s internet landscape has much room to grow as fibre becomes more widely available.
However, if we just consider Africa alone, South Africa ranks number one on the continent. The index revealed that Mauritius, Morocco and Tunisia follow South Africa, but considering that none of these are sub-Saharan countries, our internet speeds and availability are an achievement to be proud of.
Why does SA rank in this position?
While SA has gone up a few places in the rankings from the 2021 measure of global internet speed – mostly due to an improvement in electronic security and the impact of internet networks, the ongoing power outages and internet shutdowns are still impacting the digital quality of life.
Affordability is also a key factor in South Africa’s ranking; it considers how long a person needs to work in order to cover their internet costs. The internet has become slightly more expensive in the last year for South Africans, who would have to work a minimum of five hours and six minutes, on average, to afford a monthly internet package – as opposed to 19 minutes in the context of Israel.
South Africa still ranks below the global average in this criterion. As it stands, the worldwide average time to work to afford fixed internet is six-and-a-half hours. However, in terms of actual cost, the internet in South Africa has never been cheaper . This is good news for locals who are able to buy 1GB of mobile data for as little as 35 seconds of work. This is wonderful news for South Africans who love to chat, use WhatsApp and watch TV online.
What does the future hold for internet speed in SA?
It has been predicted that by 2027, 90% of South Africans will be regularly using the internet. With increasing demand, we are likely to see an increase in supply – faster and more affordable connectivity. The South African government has set the goal of providing internet to all citizens by 2024, not only those households who can currently afford the service. If you are looking to get connected with fast and reliable internet, get in touch with WonderNet today. For more information about our fibre offerings or to get a quote for an internet upgrade, please contact us today or check if we’re connected to your address.