As our summer season internship session winds down, TeleGeography welcomes summer season 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 very best time together with her intern class within the workplace; our interns are an asset as we compile giant, data-intensive analysis initiatives all through the summer season. In the present day, Zar shares what she’s discovered about broadband in Africa whereas on the job.
We’ll move the baton to Zar to let you know the remainder. ⬇️
This summer season, I used to be glad to affix TeleGeography’s Pricing Crew as a analysis intern aiding with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband information. I spent a bit of my time specializing in Africa and a few elements of Asia.
As my internship expertise winds down, I wished to replicate on what I’ve discovered from the TeleGeography staff concerning the broadband market in Africa.
The Telecom Encyclopedia
First, let’s begin with a number 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 consists of the broadband providers web suppliers supply to companies, versus dwelling 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 alerts to the world of a person’s premises. That is the preferred entry sort 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 taking a look at speedy 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 big enhance in submarine cable funding.
Regional Subsea Cable Funding | AFPIF 2023
Submarine cable investments encompass fiber optic cables. Thus, the rising funding right here will enhance entry to the connectivity market, together with enterprise broadband.
There are two present initiatives 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 offer steady capability inside Africa whereas connecting nations in Africa towards Asia, the Center East, and Europe.
This undertaking is backed by eight main expertise and telecommunications corporations together with Meta, Vodafone, and China Cellular. The undertaking launched in 2020; Airtel Africa activated the portion connecting Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in June 2024.
The second cable undertaking 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 undertaking 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 Could 2024, satellite tv for pc broadband supplier Starlink offered providers to eight African nations. They’ve plans to develop to twenty nations by the top of 2024.
Satellite tv for pc broadband entry is common amongst rural areas the place it’s difficult to plant fiber attributable to 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 increased velocity and decrease latency web connectivity out there. Within the Low Earth Orbit satellite tv for pc market, one latest instance is Eutelsat Group partnering up with Liquid Applied sciences.
Enterprise broadband is a vital aspect out there connectivity in Africa. Since we’re taking a look at these giant investments on the spine infrastructure initiatives centered 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 a complete.
My TeleGeography Studying Checklist
Many because of Zar for sharing insights from her summer season internship. If you would like to discover a TeleGeography internship, keep watch over our Careers web page for alternatives in 2025 and past.
