Mobile Internet Connectivity 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa Factsheet
THE MOBILE CONNECTIVITY INDEX
There are now more than 3.8 billion mobile internet subscribers globally, representing 49% of the world’s population. However, adoption has not been equitable, with mobile internet adoption standing at 26% in Sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2019. The region accounts for almost half of the global population not covered by a mobile broadband network.
The GSMA Connected Society’s Mobile Connectivity Index (MCI) supports the mobile industry’s commitment to connect everyone and everything to a better future by measuring the performance of 170 countries – representing 99% of the global population – against the four key enablers of mobile internet adoption: infrastructure; affordability; consumer readiness; and content and services. The data the MCI provides can help focus the deliberate and strategic efforts that are required by the mobile industry, governments and the international community to accelerate mobile internet uptake.
STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Sub-Saharan African Mobile Percentage of the Sub-Saharan African population Connectivity Index scores over time connected to mobile internet
30% 25% 38 37% 270m 47% 42% 310m 36 50% 410m 370m 35 470m 450m 33 31 49% 29 47% 40% 43% 490m 520m 430m 37% 390m 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 36% 340m 350m 26% 18% 20% 23% 13% 15% 270m The index is built up 170m 200m 240m through 41 indicators 120m 150m feeding into 14 dimensions 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 that are aggregated to Connected Usage Gap Coverage Gap give a score for each of the four enablers. Scores fall Source: GSMA Intelligence. ‘Usage gap’ refers to populations that live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network within a range of 0-100. but who are not using mobile internet. ‘Coverage gap’ refers to populations that do not live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network (3G or above). NB: totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
The GSMA Connected Society programme works with the mobile industry and key stakeholders to increase access to and adoption of mobile internet and all the benefits that it can deliver. Get in touch to find out more:[email protected] Mobile Internet Connectivity 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa Factsheet
KEY STATISTICS
AVERAGE DOWNLOAD 3G COVERAGE 4G COVERAGE SPEEDS MOBILE SOCIAL MEDIA PENETRATION
52% 2015 11% 2015 4.2 Mbps 2015
Infrastructure 2017 2017 Mbps 2017 63% 25% 6.8 and Services Content 5% 2015 8% 2017 11% 2019 75% 2019 49% 2019 7.5 Mbps 2019
Average affordability of MOBILE SUBSCRIBER PENETRATION 1GB 8% 5.4% 4.2% (% of monthly GDP per capita) 2015 2017 2019
Average affordability
Affordability of cheapest internet Consumer Readiness Consumer 40% 43% 45% device 57% 46% 30% 2015 2017 2019 2015 2017 2019 (% of monthly GDP per capita)
• There has been a continued • 2019 marked the first • A large gender gap and • The biggest barrier to acceleration in mobile year that there were rural-urban gap in mobile mobile internet adoption broadband coverage, as more mobile broadband internet use persist, reported by consumers operators upgrade existing connections than 2G, as standing at 37% and who are aware of it is 2G sites to 3G and 4G (with consumers benefitted 60%, respectively. a lack of digital skills, Overall 4G networks now covering from more affordable especially for women and almost half the regional smartphones and smart- rural populations. population). feature phones.
Top Five Countries by Index and Enabler (2019)
Consumer Content and Index Infrastructure Affordability Readiness Services
Mauritius South Africa Mauritius South Africa Mauritius South Africa Lesotho Nigeria Mauritius South Africa Ghana Rwanda Botswana Namibia Cabo Verde Botswana Mauritius South Africa Botswana Ghana Kenya Kenya Ghana Cabo Verde Kenya
Most Improved Countries (2014-2019)
Index scores 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 Mobile 2019 Mobile 49 48 50 KENYA Internet Penetration Internet Penetration 45 44 KENYA 43 44 COTE D’IVOIRE 16% 27% 40 38 38 40 TANZANIA COTE D’IVOIRE 37 37 39 SIERRA LEONE 15% 28% KENYA 36 34 35 ZAMBIA TANZANIA 32 32 9% 18% 31 34 COTE D’IVOIRE 29 28 32 27 SIERRA LEONE 13% 27% TANZANIA 25 23 26 SIERRA LEONE 25 ZAMBIA ZAMBIA 23 13% 26%
Visit the Mobile Connectivity Index: www.mobileconnectivityindex.com