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A new report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has revealed that Africa continues to lag significantly behind the rest of the world in internet usage, with only 38% of the continent’s population online in 2024.
This figure falls starkly below the global average of 68%, highlighting the persistent digital divide across Africa.
The findings, published in the ITU’s State of Digital Development in Africa report, offer a sobering assessment of the challenges facing digital connectivity across the continent, despite growing demand for internet services.
According to the report, while internet access has improved steadily over the years, vast numbers of Africans remain disconnected, primarily due to high service costs, limited digital literacy, and underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Affordability remains one of the central barriers to digital inclusion. The ITU observed, “In 2024, the median price of an entry-level mobile broadband plan (2GB per month) stood at 4.2% of gross national income (GNI) per capita, down slightly from 4.6% in 2023. That’s still more than double the UN Broadband Commission’s affordability target of two per cent, and the highest of any ITU region.
The situation is even worse for fixed broadband, which carries a median price tag of 15% of GNI per capita, placing it well beyond the reach of most African households. These high costs hit low-income groups the hardest, deepening digital inequality across the continent.”
Despite mobile technology remaining the most widespread form of internet access, gaps in coverage persist.
The ITU reported that mobile broadband now covers 86% of the population, yet 14% still have no access at all—a figure that rises dramatically in rural regions, where one in four people remain unserved.
While around 70% of Africa’s population has access to 4G networks, approximately 16% continue to rely on 3G technology, which offers slower speeds and restricted online experiences.
Meanwhile, 5G remains in its infancy, reaching only 11% of the population and largely limited to specific urban areas.
The disparity between urban and rural areas is another key concern highlighted by the report.
In 2024, internet usage in cities stood at 57%, compared to just 23% in rural communities—the most pronounced gap among all ITU-monitored regions. This imbalance is attributed to uneven infrastructure investment, with modern technologies like 4G and 5G focused mainly in urban centres, leaving rural regions dependent on outdated and slower networks.
The ITU has urged African governments to implement targeted policies and boost infrastructure investments aimed at narrowing this divide.
While the report acknowledges progress in updating ICT regulations across many nations, it notes that only 18% of African countries have achieved the highest level of ICT regulatory advancement (G4), compared to a global average of 38%.
“Digital transformation cannot succeed without robust digital governance,” the report cautioned, calling for greater coordination around digital identity systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and initiatives to improve digital skills and cross-sector collaboration.
The report also highlighted country-specific data, with Nigeria standing out as one of Africa’s most connected nations.
As of December 2024, the country recorded 138.7 million mobile connections, according to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
However, broadband penetration remained at 44.43%, and 42% of users were still on 2G networks. Only 2.4% of the country’s internet users had access to 5G.
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