Regional 5G connections struggle at 11%
Despite the huge investments in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, only 38 per cent of the populations were online in 2024. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which disclosed this, noted that with 38 per cent, Africa ranked lowest in terms of Internet usage last year, compared to a global average of 68 per cent.
The ITU disclosed this in the latest State of Digital Development in Africa report, which painted a sobering picture of the continent’s digital divide, despite a growing appetite for Internet connectivity across Africa. Invariably, it means 62 per cent of Africa’s 1.54 billion populations currently have no access to the Internet.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria, which has one of the largest mobile connectivity on the continent, recorded 138.7 million mobile connections as of December 2024.
Broadband penetration in the country stood at 44.43 per cent in the same period, while 42 per cent of the country’s connectivity was still on 2G, with 5G connections accounting for only 2.4 per cent
ITU noted that although Internet adoption in Africa has been rising, millions remain offline due to high service costs, digital illiteracy, and a lack of reliable infrastructure, especially in rural communities.
According to the report, affordability remains a major stumbling block to broader digital inclusion. ITU noted: “In 2024, the median price of an entry-level mobile broadband plan (2GB per month) stood at 4.2 per cent of gross national income (GNI) per capita, down slightly from 4.6 per cent 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 per cent 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.” ITU, which is the United Nations arm in charge of global communications, observed that mobile networks continue to be the backbone of Internet access in Africa.
It added that as of 2024, mobile broadband covered 86 per cent of the population, yet 14 per cent remain completely unserved – a figure that spikes to 25 per cent in rural areas.
Although 70 per cent of the population has access to 4G, the report explained that around 16 per cent still rely on 3G networks, which offer slower speed and limited digital experiences.
Meanwhile, 5G coverage is still nascent, reaching just 11 per cent of the population, mostly in select urban hubs. The report showed that Africa’s digital revolution is being led by young, urban populations, while older adults and rural dwellers are being left behind.
The urban-rural divide is especially stark with Internet usage in cities reaching 57 per cent in 2024, compared to just 23 per cent in rural areas -the widest gap among all ITU regions.
This divide is compounded by unequal infrastructure investment. While 4G and 5G rollouts prioritise urban areas, rural regions remain stuck with older and slower networks.
The ITU emphasised the need for targeted policies and infrastructure investments to close the digital gap. On the policy front, the global telecoms body observed that many African nations have made strides in updating their ICT regulatory frameworks, moving towards more competitive and investment-friendly environments.
However, the ITU noted that only 18 per cent of African countries have reached the most advanced level of ICT regulation (G4), well below the global average of 38 per cent.
It warned that digital transformation cannot succeed without robust digital governance. The report called for improved coordination on digital identity, digital skills, and cross-sector policies, alongside stronger efforts in cybersecurity and data protection.
