Towards improved access to broadband in Africa

Abstract

The present report presents an analysis, based on secondary data and government documents, progress in Africa in building broadband infrastructure and in promoting access to it. The findings presented in this document are based on a detailed analysis of the data for the coverage of broadband customer access networks, along with their likely performance, given the known constraints. The analysis also uses the available information to measure broadband availability in terms of the infrastructure currently in place, and the policy and regulatory environment at both the national and regional levels, for enabling improved broadband access. The report considers not only broadband availability, but also its quality, which is affected by several factors. It also provides an analysis measuring availability through the infrastructure currently in place and the possible achievable speeds over that infrastructure as the measure of quality. Lastly, the report makes a set of recommendations for consideration by African stakeholders, especially by policymakers and decision makers, in order to improve access to broadband on the continent and to unleash the contribution of broadband to the African transformation agenda.