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 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 season. Right this moment, Zar shares what she’s realized about broadband in Africa whereas on the job.
We’ll cross 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 helping with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband information. I spent a bit of my time specializing in Africa and a few components of Asia.
As my internship expertise winds down, I needed to replicate on what I’ve realized from the TeleGeography staff in regards to 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 kind varies when it comes to entry varieties, together with fiber (LAN/FTTx), wi-fi, DSL, cable, and satellite tv for pc.
Enterprise Broadband Entry Sorts in Africa
LAN or FTTx captures using fiber-optic cables to convey indicators 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 speedy improvement 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 introduced 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 growing funding right here will enhance 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 growing connectivity between Africa and the world.
The primary is the 2Africa Subsea Cable Challenge. 2Africa is the biggest 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 international locations in Africa towards Asia, the Center East, and Europe.
This venture is backed by eight main know-how and telecommunications firms together with Meta, Vodafone, and China Cellular. 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 by 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.
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 international locations. They’ve plans to increase to twenty international locations by the tip of 2024.
Satellite tv for pc broadband entry is in style 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 lively in Africa and teaming up with satellite tv for pc and telecommunications firms to convey larger velocity and decrease latency web connectivity available in the market. 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 component 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 due to 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.
