The High Cost of Internet Connectivity

As a follow up to the previous post, here's a brief look at Internet connectivity in a rural district like Sironko in Uganda.

Image source: news.com

Fibre for Africa points out what is suggested by the above map of undersea cables:

East and Southern Africa is the only region in the world that is not connected to the global broadband infrastructure and accounts for less than one percent of the world's international bandwidth capacity. As a result of this 'missing link', the region relies on satellite connectivity, with costs amongst the highest in the world.

The population density of urban centers makes it possible for Internet Cafes to provide connectivity at a profit. Not so in rural Uganda.

Satellite connectivity using a VSAT, for example, costs around US$ 6000 minimum for set up and around US$ 600 in monthy charges (not to mention maintenance costs).

So, what is being done to address this issue? Well, there are two projects that aim to bring undersea cables to east africa: EASSy and TEAMS. When they will actually be implemented and whether they would bring a drastic drop in connectivity costs remain unknown.