Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Digital Inclusion

Zero-Rating No Panacea in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda & South Africa – Report

Article Image
A new report has highlighted the continuing presence of significant barriers to accessing the Internet in four African countries, and notes that these barriers extend beyond mere affordability of access.

Although the report is not entirely objective -- it was carried out by Research ICT Africa but backed by Mozilla -- it sheds some light on why citizens in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa still find it difficult to get online even where there is access to subsidized data, such as zero-rated offerings.

Certainly, Internet penetration is still low in Africa generally compared to other regions of the world. Recent statistics from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 2017 note that 21.8% of Africa's population is now using the Internet, although this percentage rises to 40.3% for people aged 15-24. Around 18% of African households have Internet access compared with 84.2% in Europe, and Internet penetration is 24.9% for men in Africa and 18.6% for women.

The ITU further noted that the cost of the handset, rather than the cost of the service itself, is often reported as the main barrier to owning a mobile phone. "Another important barrier is the lack of perceived benefits. In communities where overall mobile uptake is low, mobile phone use is perceived to have fewer benefits since fewer community members are also using this mode of communication. Other barriers include lack of ICT skills necessary for accessing the Internet through a mobile phone," the ITU report said.

Looking at individual countries in more detail certainly reveals that barriers to access can vary considerably, as shown by the research into Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. According to Research ICT Africa, there is still a significant urban-rural divide in opportunities to access the Internet.

Dr. Alison Gillwald, executive director of Research ICT Africa, added that the use of subsidized data such as zero-rated content often "glosses over the fact that many people in rural communities don't even have access to the best subsidized offerings and have to spend largely disproportionate amounts of their already low income on mobile access, and that's assuming they can even find electricity to charge their devices."

Jochai Ben-Avie, senior global policy manager at Mozilla, also pointed out that few respondents to the survey in the four African countries actually use or depend on zero-rated data. "We are, however, seeing a lot of interest in 'equal rating' compliant models which provide access to all of the Internet, not just some parts of it," he said.

"More must be done to connect the unconnected. This research makes clear that it's critical we all focus more on barriers like healthy competition outside urban areas, electricity, digital literacy and gender power relations," added Ben-Avie.

The key findings of the report included:

  • Access to subsidized data did not result significantly in new users going online in any of the four countries.
  • Use of subsidized data is just one of many strategies employed by users to manage costs in these four countries.
  • Uptake of zero rating varied across the four countries. Research ICT Africa noted that awareness was low and skepticism about free services was high in Nigeria, whereas in Rwanda bundles with unlimited WhatsApp and Facebook were very popular. In Kenya and South Africa, the zero-rated services were welcomed for their cost-reducing nature.
  • There was substantial interest in "equal rating" -- partially subsidized data bundles that provide access to the entire Internet and not just some parts of it.
  • Poor network quality and coverage limited the consumption of subsidized data since some respondents, especially in rural areas of Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, reported that telcos with those offerings did not have coverage in their area. Indeed, many of these users only have access via the most expensive operator in that country.
  • Women face additional barriers to Internet use, including concern of being exposed to inappropriate content online and its consequences in their intimate relationships and family responsibilities.
— Ann Morris, contributing editor, special to Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Key adoption areas for machine learning in Africa

ICT analyst Francis Hook identifies some of the key sectors that could be positively impacted by machine learning, including education, government services, healthcare and climate tech.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: September 2023

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in September 2023 in the Middle East and Africa included more 5G spectrum licenses, vendor and operator strategies, and partnerships – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002