Africa Mobile Internet: Where No Broadband Has Gone Before
1 February 2008Africa’s demand for Internet access is on the rise but the continent lacks major line-based infrastructure, leaving the door for mobile Internet to wide open.
Operators in Africa are expecting a 40% to 50% growth in mobile Internet demand between the 2006 numbers and 2009, according to research by Frost & Sullivan. As the switch from 2G to 3G comes about, a drop in phone and service costs could easily place mobile devices into the huge gap of Internet needs left by a lack of fixed lines.
“The poor state of fixed line infrastructure is creating the potential for the African mobile Internet market to boom,” said Frost & Sullivan research analyst Spiwe Chireka. “Mobile internet has emerged as the solution to the continent’s last mile connectivity problem.”
Mobile Internet deployment is much more cost effective in the region compared to a fixed line and tends to be somewhat cheaper for consumers. However, at the current cost of handsets and services, mobile net access is still too expensive for the majority of Africans. Operators find difficulty in areas that lack significant infrastructure development due to a lack of roads and reliable electricity.
“Mobile Internet service providers need to form partnerships with cellular companies as well as technology and infrastructure providers to see how best they can provide cheaper or more affordable handsets that will provide good quality service,” said Chireka. Africa has the potential to be a large and successful market for everyone involved if these companies can work together to expand coverage and reduce costs.
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