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 one of the best time along 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. Immediately, 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 remaining. ⬇️
This summer season, I used to be glad to hitch TeleGeography’s Pricing Crew as a analysis intern helping with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband knowledge. I spent a piece of my time specializing in Africa and a few elements of Asia.
As my internship expertise winds down, I needed to mirror 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 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 provide to companies, versus dwelling entry. This kind varies by way of 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 using fiber-optic cables to carry indicators to the world of a person’s premises. That is the preferred entry kind 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 improvement in Africa’s connectivity market over the subsequent decade. Right here’s why.
Infrastructure Growth & Tech Giants
TeleGeography isn’t 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 major improve in submarine cable funding.
Regional Subsea Cable Funding | AFPIF 2023
Submarine cable investments include 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 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 Undertaking. 2Africa is the biggest 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 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 Cell. 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 means 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 venture by Google that goes from Portugal to South Africa.
Trying to the Sky
Aside from fiber infrastructure investments, Satellite tv for pc broadband recognition is on the rise.
As of Might 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 common 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 carry larger velocity and decrease latency web connectivity out there. 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 crucial ingredient out there connectivity in Africa. Since we’re these giant 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 a complete.
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, keep watch over our Careers web page for alternatives in 2025 and past.
