The document discusses the Internet Society's mission to promote the open development of the internet globally, highlighting the digital divide, particularly in Africa where internet penetration remains low. It identifies barriers to connectivity such as high access costs, variable quality of service, and limited relevant content, especially in local languages. The document outlines strategies for connecting unconnected populations, including improving network access, device affordability, and encouraging local content development.

1. www.internetsociety.org
Connecting the unconnected
Dawit Bekele
Director, African Regional Bureau
Internet Society

2. Operating at the
intersection of policy,
technology and
development, allows the
Internet Society to be a
thought leader on issues
key to the Internet’s
continued growth and
evolution.
2
How We Work
TECHNOLOGY
POLICY
DEVELOPMENT
Our mission: Promoting the open
development, evolution, and use
of the Internet for the benefit of
all people throughout the world.

3. Global Presence Updated
March 2015
108
Chapters
Worldwide
70k
Members and
Supporters
145
Organization
Members
6
Regional
Bureaus3
NORTH AMERICA
LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
EUROPE
AFRICA
THE MIDDLE EAST
ASIA
More than

4. www.internetsociety.org
Outline
Who is unconnected?
Why are they unconnected?
How to connect them?

5. www.internetsociety.org
Who is unconnected?

6. World Internet Statistics
6

7. Growth of Internet penetration in Africa
7
Figure 1 Internet penetration in Africa (Sources: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm; ITU (2014), the World in 2014: ICT Facts
and Figures)Figure 1 Internet penetration in Africa (Sources: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm; ITU (2014), the World in 2014: ICT Facts
and Figures)

8. Top African countries on the Internet (by
number)
8

9. Top African countries on the Internet (by
penetration)
9
Source: ITU – the World in 2014: ICT Facts and Figures; 2014 World
Bank Indicators on GDP per capita

10. Bottom 10 African countries on the Internet (by
penetration)
10
Percentage of Internet users: bottom 10 countries based on GDP per capita
(Source: ITU – the World in 2014: ICT Facts and Figures; 2014 World Bank
Indicators on GDP per capita)

11. www.internetsociety.org
Why are they unconnected?

12. Network access
12
• Fixed broadband
• 0.4% for Africa and 9.8% for the
world
• Wireless
• 3G/4G mobile data
• Free or paid Wi-Fi services
• Mobile data coverage nearing
100% in many countries in Africa
• Quality of access is variable

13. Device access
13
• Devices
• Increasing number of
smartphones
– Nigeria (25%), Egypt (22%),
Ghana (18%), Cameroon (17%),
Kenya (13%) and Senegal
(11%).

14. Affordability
14
Cost of access of country’s average GDP per capita
 less than 2% in most of Europe
 6.1% in South Africa
 7.4% in Sudan
 15.7% in Kenya’s average GDP
 31% in Uganda
 60.4% in Ethiopia

15. Interest for access
15
• Lack of relevant content
• Lack of content in local
languages
• Quality/price

16. www.internetsociety.org
How to connect them?

17. Network access
17
• Interconnect Africa
• Physical connection
• Traffic exchange
• Last mile solutions
• Mobile broadband
• Fixed broadband
• Fiber to the home

18. Device access
18
• Devices costs should go down
• Taxations
• Local industry

19. Affordability
19
• Regulatory reforms
• Monopolies and duopolies should disappear
• New models for remote areas
• Wireless for communities

20. Interest for access
20
• Encourage content and
application development
• Content in local languages
• Government should lead
• Encourage content developers
• Remove barriers for monetizing
content
• Example
• Digital payments
• Access to stores (Apple store, Google
Play)
• Access to advertisement (GoogleAd)
• Encourage innovation and
entrepreneurship

21. www.internetsociety.org
Thank you!
Dawit Bekele
bekele@isoc.org