• Fixed broadband remains too expensive across Africa, limiting access and usage
• High setup fees and limited fiber network coverage hold back adoption
• Experts call for stronger investment and public policies to cut costs and expand reach

Fixed broadband is meant to be the backbone of Africa’s digital transformation. But for most people on the continent, it remains a luxury. Despite notable progress in laying fiber-optic cables over the past two decades, fixed broadband access is still limited and expensive.

As of 2024, the median price of a basic fixed broadband plan (5 GB) stood at 13.4% of monthly per capita Gross National Income (GNI) in Africa. That figure compares with just 3.9% for mobile internet and is six times higher than the global median of 2.2%. It is also far above the 2% affordability target set by the United Nations Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.

While this is a drop from 19.8% in 2018, the cost is still too high for a large share of the population. In fact, in 2024, there were fewer than one fixed broadband subscription per 100 people across Africa, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The agency points to multiple reasons for this, including the hidden costs that come with signing up.

Unlike mobile plans, new fixed broadband subscribers often face high one-time fees for installation and equipment. In some cases, these setup costs exceed one full month of service. That alone can be a dealbreaker for many would-be users.

Limited network coverage also holds back broadband access. Although the continent is connected to 77 international submarine cable systems, the rollout of fiber infrastructure inland has been slow. According to the ITU, in 2023, only 30% of the African population lived within 10 kilometers of a fiber node. About 49% lived within 25 kilometers, 67% within 50 kilometers, and 79% within 100 kilometers.

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Development banks have supported efforts to expand the fiber footprint. Since 2005, the African Development Bank and the World Bank have backed regional and national broadband deployment projects. By June 2024, Africa had reached 2,139,506 kilometers of total terrestrial fiber network, according to the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). Of that, 1,337,158 kilometers were operational, 112,373 kilometers were under construction, and another 124,179 kilometers were planned.

But for a continent that spans 30 million square kilometers, the existing network remains far from sufficient. The World Bank is urging both governments and the private sector to step up investment to meet the goal of universal coverage by 2030.

The ATU has emphasized the broad economic value of fixed broadband. As new technologies emerge, reliable connectivity becomes even more critical. The return on investment is high. For every dollar spent on fixed broadband infrastructure, the contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) can exceed 120%, the agency said.

For example, a $200 million investment in fixed broadband could generate around $446 million in GDP in Africa’s largest markets. The gains would be lower in emerging and developing markets where the digital sector is still maturing and contributes less to national GDP.

In addition to expanding fiber networks, the ATU argues that governments must implement public policies that help lower costs and encourage adoption. Only then can Africa unlock the full potential of its broadband infrastructure and deliver meaningful digital access to all.