Facts And Charts

Internet usage on the African continent

When It Comes to Mobile Internet Africa Is Ahead Asia and North America*

In the evolution of digitization, young African societies are skipping the establishment of desktop computers and count on using smartphones with mobile internet.

*Google chrome usage 2020 from CrUX database

Google Chrome Usage on Desktop and Mobile Devices

Google Chrome Usage on Desktop and Mobile Devices

When It Comes to Mobile Internet Africa Is Ahead Asia and North America*

In the evolution of digitization, young African societies are skipping the establishment of desktop computers and count on using smartphones with mobile internet.

*Google chrome usage 2020 from CrUX database

Chrome Usage on Desktop and Mobile Devices

EUR=Europe, OCN=Oceania, SAM=South-America, NAM=North-America, ASA=Asia, AFR=Africa

When It Comes to Mobile Internet Africa Is Ahead Asia and North America*

In the evolution of digitization, young African societies are skipping the establishment of desktop computers and count on using smartphones with mobile internet.

*Google chrome usage 2020 from CrUX database

Africa Is Trendsetter of the Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share*

The monthly breakdown of the mobile penetration rate in 2019 shows the ongoing trend, with the African continent taking the top spot internationally.

*Google chrome mobile usage share Jan-Dec 2019 from CrUX database

Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share

Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share

Africa Is Trendsetter of the Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share*

The monthly breakdown of the mobile penetration rate in 2019 shows the ongoing trend, with the African continent taking the top spot internationally.

*Google chrome mobile usage share Jan-Dec 2019 from CrUX database

Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share

AFR=Africa, ASA=Asia, EUR=Europe, NAM=North-America, OCN=Oceania, SAM=South-America

Africa Is Trendsetter of the Google Chrome Mobile Usage Share*

The monthly breakdown of the mobile penetration rate in 2019 shows the ongoing trend, with the African continent taking the top spot internationally.

*Google chrome mobile usage share Jan-Dec 2019 from CrUX database

In Africa 75.18% Of Internet Traffic Stemmed From Mobile Phones (June 2022)*

Platform-specific analysis of internet traffic, independent of browser, also confirms the trend towards using mobile internet in Africa.

*Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Market Share Africa 2022 by statcounter

Internet Traffic On The African Continent

Internet Traffic On The African Continent

In Africa 75.18% Of Internet Traffic Stemmed From Mobile Phones (June 2022)*

Platform-specific analysis of internet traffic, independent of browser, also confirms the trend towards using mobile internet in Africa.

*Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Market Share Africa 2022 by statcounter

Internet Traffic African Continent

In Africa 75.18% Of Internet Traffic Stemmed From Mobile Phones (June 2022)*

Platform-specific analysis of internet traffic, independent of browser, also confirms the trend towards using mobile internet in Africa.

*Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Market Share Africa 2022 by statcounter

Growth in International Internet Capacity Connected to Africa Continues to Outpace That of Any Other Region*

Africa’s race to catch up online is reflected in the expansion of internet capacities, that means the internet growth rate continously takes the top position.

*Information and data from Forbes (2011-2015) TeleGeography (2015-2019) ComSoc (2016-2020)

Internet Bandwidth Growth Worldwide

Internet Bandwidth Growth Worldwide

Growth in International Internet Capacity Connected to Africa Continues to Outpace That of Any Other Region*

Africa’s race to catch up online is reflected in the expansion of internet capacities, that means the internet growth rate continously takes the top position.

*Information and data from Forbes (2011-2015) TeleGeography (2015-2019) ComSoc (2016-2020)

Internet Bandwidth Growth Worldwide

AFR=Africa, ASA=Asia, EUR=Europe, SAM=South-America, MEA=Middle-East, OCN=Oceania, NAM=North-America

Growth in International Internet Capacity Connected to Africa Continues to Outpace That of Any Other Region*

Africa’s race to catch up online is reflected in the expansion of internet capacities, that means the internet growth rate continously takes the top position.

*Information and data from Forbes (2011-2015) TeleGeography (2015-2019) ComSoc (2016-2020)

Analog-To-Digital Switchover (DSO) Has Already Been Carried Out in East African Region*

The broadcast analog-to-digital switchover (DSO) already completed in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda also causes a significant improvement of internet penetration rate due to the associated increased availability of mobile broadband internet.

*Source: ZDNet / GSMA Intelligence

DSO Status Sub-Saharan Africa 2018

DSO Status:    Completed     In Progress     Not Started 

DSO Status Sub-Saharan Africa 2018

DSO Status:    Completed     In Progress     Not Started 

Analog-To-Digital Switchover (DSO) Has Already Been Carried Out in East African Region*

The broadcast analog-to-digital switchover (DSO) already completed in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda also causes a significant improvement of internet penetration rate due to the associated increased availability of mobile broadband internet.

*Source: ZDNet / GSMA Intelligence

DSO Status Sub-Saharan Africa 2018

DSO Status:    Comp     Prog     NotS 

Comp=Completed, Prog=In Progress, NotS=Not Started

Analog-To-Digital Switchover (DSO) Has Already Been Carried Out in East African Region*

The broadcast analog-to-digital switchover (DSO) already completed in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda also causes a significant improvement of internet penetration rate due to the associated increased availability of mobile broadband internet.

*Source: ZDNet / GSMA Intelligence

Number of Smartphone Subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Expected to Reach 720 Million by 2026**

Smartphones are reaching ever broader population groups in Africa and are also requested by the indigenous people. Thus, opportuni­ties to market online services tailored to regional needs are growing immense.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Smartphone Subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa 2011 to 2026

Smartphone Subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa 2011 to 2026

Number of Smartphone Subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Expected to Reach 720 Million by 2026**

Smartphones are reaching ever broader population groups in Africa and are also requested by the indigenous people. Thus, opportuni­ties to market online services tailored to regional needs are growing immense.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Smartphone Subscriptions Sub-Saharan Africa 2011-2026

Number of Smartphone Subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Expected to Reach 720 Million by 2026**

Smartphones are reaching ever broader population groups in Africa and are also requested by the indigenous people. Thus, opportuni­ties to market online services tailored to regional needs are growing immense.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Rapidly Increasing Data Traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Projected to Amount to Monthly 5.5 GB per Active Device by 2026**

Constantly increasing use of smartphones is reflected likewise in data traffic, indicating intense use of social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, especially among younger people.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Data Traffic per Smartphone in Sub-Saharan Africa 2011 to 2026

Data Traffic per Smartphone in Sub-Saharan Africa 2011 to 2026

Rapidly Increasing Data Traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Projected to Amount to Monthly 5.5 GB per Active Device by 2026**

Constantly increasing use of smartphones is reflected likewise in data traffic, indicating intense use of social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, especially among younger people.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

Data Traffic per Smartphone Sub-Saharan Africa 2011-2026

Rapidly Increasing Data Traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Projected to Amount to Monthly 5.5 GB per Active Device by 2026**

Constantly increasing use of smartphones is reflected likewise in data traffic, indicating intense use of social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, especially among younger people.

*Forecast
**Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

M-Pesa Is One of the Largest Mobile Money Services in Africa, Run by Vodafone and Kenyan Telecoms Provider Safaricom*

SIM card-based mobile payment M-Pesa is a success story where Africa shows the world how mobile payments can work, also illustrating the wide acceptance of new technologies in Africa, provided they have a practical use in everyday life.

*Source: Vodafone Annual Report

Vodafone M-Pesa Customers from 2017 to 2021

Vodafone M-Pesa Customers from 2017 to 2021

M-Pesa Is One of the Largest Mobile Money Services in Africa, Run by Vodafone and Kenyan Telecoms Provider Safaricom*

SIM card-based mobile payment M-Pesa is a success story where Africa shows the world how mobile payments can work, also illustrating the wide acceptance of new technologies in Africa, provided they have a practical use in everyday life.

*Source: Vodafone Annual Report

Vodafone M-Pesa Customers 2017-2021

M-Pesa Is One of the Largest Mobile Money Services in Africa, Run by Vodafone and Kenyan Telecoms Provider Safaricom*

SIM card-based mobile payment M-Pesa is a success story where Africa shows the world how mobile payments can work, also illustrating the wide acceptance of new technologies in Africa, provided they have a practical use in everyday life.

*Source: Vodafone Annual Report