Access to affordable, high-quality internet has become a cornerstone of economic growth, digital innovation, and global competitiveness. The Global Internet Prices 2025 report highlights stark differences in internet costs across regions, revealing how pricing continues to shape digital inclusion worldwide. While some countries enjoy ultra-cheap, high-speed connectivity, others still face high costs that limit participation in the digital economy. Africa, in particular, presents a mixed picture-marked by promising progress in some markets and persistent challenges in others.
Africa's internet pricing landscape, uneven but evolvingAfrica remains one of the most diverse regions in terms of internet pricing and accessibility. Several African countries now rank among the most affordable globally for mobile data, driven by growing competition among telecom operators, rapid smartphone adoption, and expanding 4G and fiber-optic networks. Markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Malawi have benefited from regulatory reforms and private-sector investment, helping to lower data costs for consumers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
However, affordability is far from uniform across the continent. In landlocked, low-income, or conflict-affected countries, internet access remains expensive and often unreliable. Limited backbone infrastructure, dependence on cross-border fiber routes, high energy costs, and taxation on telecom services continue to push prices upward. These disparities reinforce the digital divide between urban and rural areas and slow the growth of Africa's digital startups, e-commerce platforms, and remote work opportunities.
