Africa is currently leading the world in terms of internet growth. The number of internet users is increasing at an incredible rate throughout the continent. Between 2018 and 2022, internet use grew in Africa by 44%. This is 10-20% faster than anywhere else in the world. So what’s behind this massive expansion of the internet in Africa?

Compared to a few years ago, people are spending a lot more time online and doing more bandwidth-intensive activities. In the early days of the internet, people mostly went online to send emails and browse web pages. After this, internet growth has largely been the result of social media and video streaming websites becoming more popular. 

These days, people are spending time online watching TV, having video calls with friends and family, and gaming. This uses a lot of data and is one of the key reasons why internet use is growing so much in Africa. Of course, businesses also contribute to the demand for high speed internet. 

Internet traffic in Africa has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. In South Africa, the growth rate is at a whopping 442 000%. Around 70% of South Africans go online on a regular basis – double that of 10 years ago. It is predicted that 90% of South Africans will be actively using the internet within the next five years.

Modernising African Internet

Before 2009, South Africans had to make do with ADSL internet. This connection type relies on copper telephone lines and was the only way for us to enjoy broadband internet. Everything changed in July 2009, when the SEACOM cable went live. This fibre optic cable brought high speed internet to South African homes and businesses for the first time. 

After this first subsea cable connected Southern and Eastern Africa to the rest of the world, many more cables have subsequently been laid. Huge investment in connectivity infrastructure has meant that customers can enjoy more competitive prices. 

It’s simple economics; when something is in good supply, prices tend to fall. So not only are South Africans enjoying a better internet connection, but they are also getting it for cheaper. This is great news for those who spend a lot of time online watching films, studying, chatting to friends or running their business.

Since the 1980s, when the first South African IP address was established, internet access in South Africa has changed a lot. Early internet speeds were around 75 bytes per second. These days, fibre connections of 1 gigabyte per second are widely available in SA. Since the introduction of fibre in Africa, the fastest speed available has increased four-fold.

Growth in demand for internet in Africa

Apart from improved infrastructure and availability, there’s also been an increase in demand for internet access. The pandemic was a catalyst for digitisation in Africa, particularly the use of social media and online streaming platforms. The use of social networks, such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, has rapidly grown in the last two years. 

Staying connected to friends and family, as well as passing time during lockdown, meant that more people started going online to connect with fellow humans. In the future, we can expect more people to spend time in the Metaverse, for fun, socialising and possibly even work opportunities. 

Getting more people in Africa online

The unfortunate truth is that many African people cannot afford the internet. Struggling to meet their basic needs, the internet can be considered a luxury item for many households. To tackle this issue, the South African government aims to provide universal internet access by 2024. 

In addition, zero-rated content on government sites means that everyone can access these essential services without needing to buy data. In other African countries, zero-rated content is also becoming more widely available. UNESCO has been involved in an initiative to provide teachers and learners in various African countries with zero-rated internet access.

Bridging the digital divide is key to Africa’s socio-economic development. The internet is an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs, students or anyone looking to gain knowledge or new skills. According to the World Economic Forum, two obstacles to internet use are a lack of digital skills and language barriers. 

As internet use grows in Africa, more content is developed in local languages. There’s also a compounding effect where people can share their digital skills with each other. It’s often younger generations that take the first step to developing digital literacy and then passing on these skills to older family members and friends.

Growth in internet choices in Africa

People in Africa have a much wider choice of internet connection types and service providers. Fibre, WiFi and mobile internet have become readily available throughout South Africa. In the rest of the continent, there has also been a massive internet growth, particularly as more underwater fibre optic cables are laid and the necessary infrastructure becomes available.

For serious internet users, fibre is the best option. Since there are so many fibre internet service providers, this high speed connection has become more affordable. WonderNet’s packages start from just R599 a month for home fibre. 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.