📶 South Africa’s Internet Story: A Digital Leap, A Divided Reality

Over the past decade, South Africa has made dramatic strides in connecting its citizens to the internet. But the journey is far from equal. A closer look at the data reveals a digital revolution carried not by fibre-optic cables and home routers, but by mobile phones — and with it, a growing disparity in how people connect.

Let's chart this Internet growth disparity

Mobile Broadband: The People's Network

In 2010, only 28% of households in South Africa had internet access from anywhere. By 2024, that figure has jumped to 82.1%. This is an extraordinary rise — one of the most significant transformations in public access to information in the country’s democratic era. Yet the nature of this access matters just as much as the numbers. The surge was not led by fibre or DSL. Instead, mobile broadband — connecting through cell phones — is what brought millions online.

From 2010 to 2024, mobile internet usage increased by 54.1 percentage points. The success can be attributed to three things:

1. 📱 Affordable smartphones, increasingly imported from Asia.

2. 📡 Expanding 3G and 4G networks, even in rural areas.

3. 💸 Flexible pricing, with prepaid bundles tailored to low-income users.

   
   

Mobile internet became South Africa’s great digital equaliser — fast to deploy, easy to access. But there’s a catch.

Fixed Internet: Stuck in First Gear

While mobile soared, fixed home internet barely moved. From 2010 to 2021, home access hovered around 10%. Only in the last few years has it shown signs of life — reaching 17.4% in 2024.

Why the slow growth?

1. 🏚️ Many communities still lack physical infrastructure for fibre or ADSL.

2. 🧩 ISPs prioritize profitable urban areas, skipping lower-income zones.

3. 🏷️ Fixed-line packages are often unaffordable for average households.

   
   

The result: fibre is becoming common in Sandton, but remains a fantasy in many parts of Soweto or Mthatha. Even where fibre is available, the entry-level cost is still too high for many. This disparity creates a two-tier internet economy: one for those who can stream and work remotely with unlimited data, and another for those checking WhatsApp and TikTok on rationed bundles.

The Policy Puzzle: Bridging the Divide

The South African government has long recognised the importance of digital inclusion. Policies like SA Connect promised nationwide broadband, with a focus on underserved areas. But implementation has lagged. Funding has been inconsistent. Coordination between national and local government has often broken down. Meanwhile, private sector fibre rollouts remain concentrated in profitable urban centres.

For meaningful digital equality, policy needs to shift towards:

1. 🛜 Subsidising community fibre access.

2. 📶 Expanding free public Wi-Fi zones.

   
   

If not, the danger is clear: a digital economy that works only for those who can afford to participate.

The Road Ahead

South Africa’s connectivity journey is impressive — but uneven. Mobile broadband has democratized access, but at the cost of quality, speed, and affordability. Fixed-line infrastructure remains the domain of the few.

The internet is no longer a luxury. It’s infrastructure — as essential as water, electricity, or roads. If the country is to thrive in a digital future, it must treat it that way.