MOBILE ENABLES INTERNET SPREAD TO MASSES IN SOUTH AFRICA

By World Wide Worx published on May 10, 2012.

The number of Internet users in South Africa accelerated dramatically in the past year, thanks to the impact of both smartphones and ordinary mobile phones. South African Internet user base had grown from 6,8-million in 2010 to 8,5-million at the end of 2011 – no less than 25% growth. World Wide Worx also forecast that this strong growth would continue during 2012, and the Internet user base would pass the 10-million mark by the end of the year.

The headline findings revealed that a total of 7,9-million South Africans access the Internet on their cell phones. Of these, 2,48-million access it only on their cellphones, and do not have access on the computers. The remaining 6,02-million users access the Internet on computers, laptops, and tablet computers. However, 90% of this number – 5,42-million – also access it on their cellphones. This means that almost 8-million South Africans sometimes or regularly access the Internet on their phones.

While smartphones are the main driver of Internet growth, the cost of data use is being driven down by the proliferation of undersea cables connecting sub-Saharan Africa. The study shows that undersea cable capacity to South Africa at the end of 2011 was 2,69 Terabits per second (Tbps), and due to rise to 11,9Tbps by the end of 2012.