The document summarizes key findings from the Alliance for Affordable Internet's (A4AI) 2015-16 Affordability Report. The A4AI works to drive down broadband prices through evidence-based policy advocacy. The report examines affordability policies in 51 countries and finds that while 111 countries meet the UN target of basic broadband priced at 5% or less of average income, only 9 countries meet this for the lowest 20% of earners and no countries meet it for those in poverty. It also explores the gender digital divide and impact of device costs on affordability. The document calls for commitments to new affordability targets, expanding public access, and designing policies with a gender focus to close connectivity gaps.

1. Internet for All by 2020?
The 2015-16 Affordability Report
Onica N. Makwakwa
Africa Regional Coordinator
Alliance for Affordable Internet
#C2CPretoria@a4a_internet #affordableinternet

2. We are the
world’s broadest technology sector alliance
working to
drive down the price of broadband
by
transforming policy and regulatory
frameworks.
What is A4AI?

3. Hosted at theWeb Foundation

4. Conducting robust original research
to underpin evidence-based policy
Annual
Affordability
Report
Newest edition
published
February 2016
Thematic
briefings
Universal Access
& Service Funds;
Zero-rating &
other mobile
data plans
Case studies
Ghana, Nigeria,
Cameroon, Peru,
Brazil, Dominican
Republic,
Myanmar,
Bangladesh

5. International advocacy through
global partnerships
Working together to expand access & achieve the SDGs
• Operationalizing recommendations from the 2016 WDR report to
close the digital divide & expand digital dividends (World Bank)
• Building capacity to develop strong ICT & gender policy (ECOWAS,
CRASA, ECLAC & other regional organizations)
• Advocate for gender responsive policy and better & improved
gender data and indicators (UN-Women, GSMA)
• September 2016: Africa Summit on Women & Girls in Technology
(UN Women, AfDB, AITI-KACE)

6. Direct support & action: Where are we
working?

7. The 2015-16 Affordability Report
• http://a4ai.org/affordability-report/
• Released February 2016
• Examines policies & regulations in place across 51
developing & emerging countries
• Takes a closer look at how income & gender inequalities
impact affordability
• Why have some countries succeeded in making Internet
access more affordable, accessible and universal, and
what can others do to catch up quickly?

8. What is the current state of affordability?
The high cost to connect is
excluding billions from
the digital revolution
• Over half the world’s population is still offline
• 70% of people in the world’s least developed countries
cannot afford a basic broadband connection (500MB)

9. Internet for all by 2020?

10. Affordability Drivers Index (ADI)
ADI
Access Infrastructure

11. ADI Rankings
Top 5 Overall ADI Scores Top 5 LDCs ADI Scores
Colombia 65.32 Rwanda 53.13
Costa Rica 64.6 Uganda 49.4
Malaysia 63.28 Gambia 45.82
Turkey 62.35 Myanmar 42.57
Peru 61.82 Tanzania 41.93

12. Poverty & income inequality are
masking the true state of affordability
111 countries
have met the UN affordability target of basic broadband
priced at 5% or less of average monthly income
YET
just
9 countries
meet this target for the bottom
20% of income earners
0 countries
meet this target for those
living in poverty

13. Exploring the true extent of the gender
digital divide

14. Accessibility:The price of a broadband for lowest 20% of
income earners
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Moçambique Botswana Tanzania South Africa Zambia Nigeria
Priceof500MBplan/AverageMonthly
IncomeofLowest20%ofincome
earners
UN target <5%
Mozambique Botswana Tanzania South Africa Zambia Nigeria

15. The Penetration of Mobile Broadband in Africa
(Q4, 2015)
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Moçambique Ghana Nigeria South Africa Uganda Tanzania Africa
Subscribersofmobilebroadbandas%
ofpopulation
NigeriaGhanaMozambiqueMozambique UgandaSouth Africa Tanzania Africa

16. What about device costs?
• If we consider a smartphone of around US$50 then on average 20% of
the population can no longer afford the phone+data
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Mobile Broadband Penetration :
Unique subscribers of mobile broadband as a % of population

17. What about device costs?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Smartphone connections (as a % of all device connections)
Non broadband connections (as a % of all connections)

18. Driving progress toward universal access
Commit to a
new “1 for 2”
affordability
target
1GB of mobile
data priced at
2% or less of
average monthly
income
Prioritise &
expand public
access
initiatives
Critical to
bringing
connectivity to
the most
marginalised
Design
policies with a
gender focus
Closing the
digital gender
gap will require
policies to
reduce barriers
for women

19. Thank you!
Onica N. Makwakwa
onica.makwakwa@webfoundation.org
@AfroDiva
@a4a_internet#affordableinternet #C2CPretoria