Africa’s Internet Gap is Increasingly an Electricity Problem

A new report from GSMA and the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa reveals that roughly 900 million Africans, representing about 60% of the continent’s population, live within reach of mobile internet but don’t use it. The research argues that closing this “usage gap” will require a multipronged approach that includes improving digital skills, making phones more affordable, and broadening broadband and electricity infrastructure. The report identifies Niger, Rwanda, and Uganda as having the widest usage gaps. It also notes that closing even half the gap in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—three of the continent’s most populous countries—could bring 170 million more people online. The findings highlight an important infrastructure link: expanding broadband in communities without dependable electricity may produce limited gains because networks need power and users need reliable electricity to charge devices.