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Sonny Aragba-Akpore
Despite the steady rise in global internet connectivity, Africa remains on the margins of globalisation, struggling with infrastructure gaps, limited investments and political inertia. Device costs remain high and affordability is elusive for millions. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) released its 2024 Facts and Figures in Geneva, with Africa positioned close to the bottom of global connectivity rankings. The ITU concedes that universal access is yet to be achieved, even though high-income economies have advanced rapidly.
In 2024, about 5.5 billion people were online, representing 68 per cent of the global population compared with 65 per cent the previous year. Growth rates improved slightly from 2.7 per cent to 3.4 per cent but the same data reveal that 2.6 billion people remain offline, showing how far the world is from universal connectivity. In high-income countries, 93 per cent of the population is online, while in low-income countries, only 27 per cent have access. Yearly growth rates in poorer countries average 8.5 per cent, which is faster than in wealthier regions but still insufficient to close the gap in the foreseeable future.
The disparities extend to data usage. Average monthly mobile broadband traffic in high-income countries is 16.2 gigabytes per subscription, while low-income countries manage only 2 GB. A user in a wealthy economy consumes in four days what a user in a poor economy consumes in a month. Regional contrasts add another layer of inequality. In Africa average traffic is 3.1 GB per subscription, which is less than a quarter of the global average of 13.9 GB and only a fraction of the 19.1 GB recorded in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Affordability has improved in statistical terms but remains a serious barrier. ITU figures show that in 2024, the median cost of a mobile broadband basket as a share of gross national income per capita dropped from 1.3 to 1.1 per cent while fixed broadband dropped from 2.8 to 2.5 per cent. Yet in low-income economies, the relative cost of access is crushing. Subscribers in a lower-middle-income country pay six times as much of their income for mobile broadband as their peers in rich economies, while in low-income economies the burden is 19 times heavier. Fixed broadband subscriptions in the poorest countries cost almost a third of an average person’s income. The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development had set a target of affordable broadband by 2025, defined as costing less than 2 per cent of monthly GNI per capita. Progress is evident as 140 economies now meet the target for at least one broadband basket but most low and middle-income countries are unlikely to meet the 2025 goal.
Next-generation technologies mirror these inequalities. Since the launch of 5G in 2019 global coverage has reached just over half of the world’s population. ITU figures put the share at 51 per cent in 2024 while GSMA projects 54 per cent in 2025. But 5G distribution is highly uneven. In high-income countries, 84 per cent of people are covered, while coverage in low-income countries reaches only four per cent. Europe enjoys 72 per cent coverage, followed by the Americas at 63 per cent and Asia Pacific at 62 per cent. By contrast, Africa has coverage of just 11 per cent. Where 5G is absent, 4G is a fallback and is available to 92 per cent of the world’s population but in low-income countries, it reaches only 52 per cent, leaving 3G still relevant for millions.
Urban-rural divides further complicate the picture. Network providers prioritise densely populated urban areas for profitability. Globally, 67 per cent of urban residents have access to 5G compared with only 29 per cent in rural areas. The gap ranges from 18 percentage points in the CIS to 41 points in Asia Pacific. In high-income economies, 90 per cent of urban residents enjoy 5G access but only 58 per cent of rural populations do. In low-income countries, 5G is virtually absent in rural areas and only 10 per cent of urban dwellers are connected.
Mobile phones remain the primary gateway to the internet, but ownership and usage are not identical. Children often use their parents’ phones and many handsets are limited to calls. Some people own multiple devices, which inflates penetration statistics. In most countries, mobile ownership exceeds actual internet usage rates.
The GSMA’s 2024 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity report reinforces ITU findings. It confirms that 4G is now the dominant global network serving 7.6 billion people or 93 per cent of the population. Investment is increasingly directed towards 5G, which now covers 54 per cent of the world. In Nigeria, NCC data show that 4G covers just over half the population at 50.8 per cent followed by 2G at 38.6 per cent 3G at 7.38 per cent and 5G at 3.17 per cent. MTN Airtel and Glo dominate the market. Coverage remains concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas, with rural communities left behind.
The GSMA survey of Nigeria found that while 78 per cent of rural respondents were aware of mobile internet, only 39 per cent owned internet-enabled devices. In urban areas, awareness was higher and ownership better but still marked by a 24-point drop off. This underlines the challenge of device affordability and digital literacy. For many Nigerians, smartphones remain costly and data plans consume a large share of disposable income.
Globally, almost 7.6 billion people now live under 4G coverage and 5G already reaches more than half the world with an additional 700 million people added in 2024 alone. Yet in Nigeria, 5G is still at an embryonic stage, serving mainly urban elites who can afford high-end devices and expensive data. Analysts argue that as infrastructure improves and device costs fall 5G could anchor Nigeria’s digital transformation. For those who already have access to 5G capable devices in major cities, the technology offers speed and reliability but at the expense of higher data consumption.
The narrative is therefore one of contrasts. On one hand, the world is witnessing a historic expansion of connectivity with billions now online. On the other hand, Africa and Nigeria in particular lag. Progress is being made with 4G coverage but affordability device access and rural penetration remain barriers. Policy choices will determine whether Africa narrows the gap or remains trapped on the periphery. Addressing affordability through targeted subsidies, expanding infrastructure into rural areas and encouraging competition among providers could accelerate progress. Encouraging local smartphone manufacturing and investing in digital literacy programmes would also help bridge divides.
Connectivity is not just a technical issue but a driver of social and economic opportunity. In an era where education, commerce governance and health are increasingly digitalised, those without access are effectively excluded from development. Africa cannot afford to remain at the bottom of the connectivity ladder. It must confront structural barriers with urgency and ambition. The statistics from ITU and GSMA reveal the scale of the challenge but also point to the possibilities if deliberate policies are pursued. With political will and coordinated investment, Africa can move closer to robust connectivity that empowers its citizens and integrates the continent into the digital age.
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