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 know-how right here in Washington, DC.
We had the very best time along with her intern class within the workplace; our interns are an asset as we compile massive, data-intensive analysis initiatives all through the summer season. As we speak, Zar shares what she’s discovered about broadband in Africa whereas on the job.
We’ll move the baton to Zar to inform you the remaining. ⬇️
This summer season, I used to be glad to affix TeleGeography’s Pricing Workforce as a analysis intern aiding with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband information. 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 replicate on what I’ve discovered from the TeleGeography workforce in regards to 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 provide to companies, versus residence entry. This sort varies when it comes to entry sorts, together with fiber (LAN/FTTx), wi-fi, DSL, cable, and satellite tv for pc.
Enterprise Broadband Entry Sorts in Africa
LAN or FTTx captures the usage of fiber-optic cables to convey alerts to the realm 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 fast growth in Africa’s connectivity market over the following decade. Right here’s why.
Infrastructure Improvement & Tech Giants
TeleGeography isn’t 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 initiatives price highlighting—one from Meta and one from Google—hyperfocused on rising connectivity between Africa and the world.
The primary is the 2Africa Subsea Cable Venture. 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 challenge is backed by eight main know-how and telecommunications corporations together with Meta, Vodafone, and China Cellular. The challenge launched in 2020; Airtel Africa activated the portion connecting Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in June 2024.
The second cable challenge price noting is Umoja from Google. Anchored in Kenya—passing by way of 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 challenge by Google that goes from Portugal to South Africa.
Trying to the Sky
Other than fiber infrastructure investments, Satellite tv for pc broadband recognition 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 in style amongst rural areas the place it’s difficult to plant fiber as a consequence 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 pace 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 ingredient available in the market connectivity in Africa. Since we’re these massive investments on the spine infrastructure initiatives 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 Listing
Many because of Zar for sharing insights from her summer season internship. If you would like to discover a TeleGeography internship, control our Careers web page for alternatives in 2025 and past.
