As our summer time internship session winds down, TeleGeography welcomes summer time pricing intern Zar Adisuryo to the weblog! Zar simply graduated from Georgetown College with a grasp’s in communication, tradition, and expertise right here in Washington, DC.
We had the perfect time along with her intern class within the workplace; our interns are an asset as we compile giant, data-intensive analysis tasks all through the summer time. As we speak, Zar shares what she’s discovered about broadband in Africa whereas on the job.
We’ll cross the baton to Zar to let you know the remainder. ⬇️
This summer time, I used to be glad to affix TeleGeography’s Pricing Workforce as a analysis intern aiding with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband knowledge. I spent a piece of my time specializing in Africa and a few elements of Asia.
As my internship expertise winds down, I wished to mirror on what I’ve discovered from the TeleGeography staff concerning the broadband market in Africa.
The Telecom Encyclopedia
First, let’s begin with a couple of definitions I wanted to brush up on.
Relating to web entry providers, broadband is any web entry that gives higher-speed capabilities with low latency, in comparison with conventional dial-up entry.
Enterprise broadband contains the broadband providers web suppliers supply to companies, versus residence entry. This sort varies by way of entry varieties, together with fiber (LAN/FTTx), wi-fi, DSL, cable, and satellite tv for pc.
Enterprise Broadband Entry Varieties in Africa
LAN or FTTx captures using fiber-optic cables to convey indicators to the realm of a consumer’s premises. That is the most well-liked entry kind of enterprise broadband in Africa at about 53% of the market penetration, adopted by wi-fi and satellite tv for pc.
We could also be fast growth in Africa’s connectivity market over the subsequent decade. Right here’s why.
Infrastructure Improvement & Tech Giants
TeleGeography is not any stranger to the African connectivity market.
In August 2023, TeleGeography Senior Analysis Supervisor Patrick Christian offered on the African Peering and Interconnection Discussion board. On this presentation, Patrick reported a major improve in submarine cable funding.
Regional Subsea Cable Funding | AFPIF 2023
Submarine cable investments encompass fiber optic cables. Thus, the rising funding right here will improve entry to the connectivity market, together with enterprise broadband.
There are two present tasks value highlighting—one from Meta and one from Google—hyperfocused on rising connectivity between Africa and the world.
The primary is the 2Africa Subsea Cable Mission. 2Africa is the most important ongoing subsea cable system coming in at 45,000 km cable with an anticipated capability of 180 Tbps to supply steady capability inside Africa whereas connecting nations in Africa towards Asia, the Center East, and Europe.
This venture is backed by eight main expertise and telecommunications corporations together with Meta, Vodafone, and China Cell. The venture launched in 2020; Airtel Africa activated the portion connecting Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in June 2024.
The second cable venture value noting is Umoja from Google. Anchored in Kenya—passing via Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, earlier than crossing the Indian Ocean to Australia—Umoja turns into the first ever subsea fiber optic route that connects Africa and Australia. Umoja follows Equiano, a earlier subsea cable venture by Google that goes from Portugal to South Africa.
Seeking to the Sky
Aside from fiber infrastructure investments, Satellite tv for pc broadband reputation is on the rise.
As of Might 2024, satellite tv for pc broadband supplier Starlink supplied providers to eight African nations. They’ve plans to develop to twenty nations by the tip of 2024.
Satellite tv for pc broadband entry is well-liked amongst rural areas the place it’s difficult to plant fiber because of challenges on the land infrastructure. And whereas Starlink is gaining consideration, many different satellite tv for pc connectivity suppliers are additionally energetic in Africa and teaming up with satellite tv for pc and telecommunications corporations to convey larger velocity and decrease latency web connectivity available in the market. Within the Low Earth Orbit satellite tv for pc market, one current instance is Eutelsat Group partnering up with Liquid Applied sciences.
Enterprise broadband is a vital factor available in the market connectivity in Africa. Since we’re these giant investments on the spine infrastructure tasks targeted within the area, and satellite tv for pc disruptors like Starlink develop affect within the African area, cables, and satellite tv for pc will have an effect on the enterprise broadband, which is part of the connectivity market as an entire.
My TeleGeography Studying Checklist
Many because of Zar for sharing insights from her summer time internship. If you would like to discover a TeleGeography internship, control our Careers web page for alternatives in 2025 and past.
