AfricaInfo/CommunicationInfrastructureTechnology

Facebook to make internet costs cheaper in Africa

Facebook has plans to invest more in internet connectivity in Africa and help lower the cost of data

Africa’s economy could grow by nearly US$60 billion by 2024 through huge investments in internet connectivity by Facebook.

The US-headquartered social media giant said internet costs will become cheaper when there is an increase in access.

Facebook wants to enable more people in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the African continent to get access to the internet. To this end, the company is making hefty investments in data centres, submarine cables and wifi infrastructure.

The social media conglomerate also aims to ensure an increase in e-commerce and online job applications.

Extending 3G

In line with its plans to increase internet connectivity in Africa, Facebook has already launched wifi services in seven countries. The corporation has also taken steps to ensure extension of 3G coverage to four million people in Uganda and Nigeria.

Research by the International Telecommunications Union shows that over half the population of sub-Saharan Africa does not have access to the internet.

And yet, although the internet is generally slow in Africa, it costs more than equivalent services in Europe and other parts of the world.

Across Africa, on average, 1 gigabyte of data accounted for 8% of average income at the end of 2018.

This finding, from the Alliance for Affordable Internet, followed research which showed that the same 1GB of data accounted for 2.7% of average income in the Americas and just 1.5% in Asia.

Africa rising

In 2018, Facebook reported that 139 million people in Africa were using the platform every month.

The new media conglomerate also owns WhatsApp and Instagram and says that these two apps account for 20% of total internet traffic in Africa.

Facebook remains the most visited social media platform in Africa, although so many users on the continent face slow internet connectivity and high data costs.

E A Alanore

* Asaase Radio 99.5 – now live on your radio. Tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
#asaaseradio
#TVOL

Source
BBC News
Show More

Related Articles

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

ALLOW OUR ADS