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 47% 42% 37% 270m
36 50% 410m 370m
310m
35 470m 450m
33
31 47% 49%
29 40% 43% 490m 520m
36% 37% 390m
430m
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
340m 350m

20% 23% 26%

13% 15% 18% 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

Content and Services

3G COVERAGE 4G COVERAGE
DOWNLOAD
SPEEDS
MOBILE SOCIAL MEDIA PENETRATION
Infrastructure

52% 2015 11% 2015 4.2Mbps 2015

63% 25% 6.8Mbps

75%
2017

2019 49%
2017

2019 7.5Mbps
2017

2019
5% 2015 8% 2017 11% 2019

Average affordability of

1GB
MOBILE SUBSCRIBER PENETRATION

Consumer Readiness
8% 5.4% 4.2%
Affordability

(% of monthly GDP per capita)

2015 2017 2019

Average affordability
of cheapest internet
device
57% 46% 30% 40%
2015
43%
2017
45%
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
Overall

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,
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
48
49
50 KENYA Internet Penetration Internet Penetration
45
43
44
44 COTE D’IVOIRE
KENYA 16% 27%
40
37
38
37
38 40 TANZANIA
39 SIERRA LEONE
COTE D’IVOIRE 15% 28%
KENYA 36

31
32
34
32
34
35 ZAMBIA TANZANIA 9% 18%
COTE D’IVOIRE 29 32

TANZANIA
27
28
25
SIERRA LEONE 13% 27%
SIERRA LEONE
ZAMBIA
23
23
25
26
ZAMBIA 13% 26%
Visit the Mobile Connectivity Index: www.mobileconnectivityindex.com