The digital divide continues to be a problem in Africa according to Ovum’s Africa Digital Outlook Report, 2019.
The report identifies and analyses the most important developments and growth prospects in Africa’s digital market states that even as Africa sees progress with broadband and digital services, basic connectivity remains out of reach or not reliably available for many people on the continent.

However, the gaps in connectivity represent a missed commercial opportunity for service providers, as well as an obstacle to achieving the economic and social benefits that should arise as broadband penetration increases.

The report suggests that to tackle the digital divide, the key parties in the industry, including service providers, vendors, regulators, and governments, should work to improve the availability and affordability of communication services on the continent.

“All have responsibilities to ensure the orderly development of the market. For example, governments and regulators have a responsibility to ensure the appropriate allocation of spectrum, which is increasingly important as demand for mobile and wireless broadband grows”.

Focus on broadband

It states further that while for African service providers, the most significant growth opportunity in the near term is in data connectivity, expanding broadband networks to seize that opportunity should be core to their strategy.

“For most service providers on the continent, the network focus should increasingly be on improving LTE coverage and capacity. Advanced African operators should also be developing network and commercial strategies for 5G”.

The report however calls for development in digital strategies to improve service delivery and efficiency. “As digital services represent the next phase of growth for most African service providers they should develop their plans for service offerings, target markets, and implementation. Service providers should also be using technologies such as analytics and virtualisation to improve their own organisational efficiency”.

Report by: Theresa Igata