Millions of Africans have internet coverage but are not online. Here’s why
Millions of Africans live within reach of mobile broadband but remain offline. Ghana, Egypt, and Niger show why expanding coverage is only part of the solution: people also need affordable devices, trusted services and an internet that serves their everyday needs.
Africa aims to connect one billion people by 2030, yet the challenge lies beyond mere network coverage. Even though 550 million Africans, or 36% of the population, use the internet, this figure is still far below the global average of 74%. Most Africans who remain offline already live within reach of a mobile broadband signal, indicating barriers such as device affordability, digital skills, and perceived value in going online.
In 2025, 906 million Africans live in areas covered by mobile broadband but do not use mobile internet, while another 122 million live in areas without last-mile mobile or fixed connectivity.
Ghana, Egypt, and Niger exemplify the different facets of this problem. Ghana boasts 99% 4G coverage, yet only 57% of the population uses the internet. The primary barrier is not signal availability but rather the affordability of devices and the confidence to use digital services. Women are less likely than men to use social media, online banking, government services, or income-generating activities.
In Egypt, internet use is dominated by communication, social media, and entertainment, while online banking, government services, and income-generating activities see lower participation. Users in Egypt are highly engaged in daily internet use, yet their activities are mainly limited to communication, social media, and entertainment.
The primary problem is not just getting people online but creating more value from those who are already connected.
Niger faces even more significant challenges, with over 71% of its population still not using the internet. This lack of usage is attributed to factors like literacy, device capability, and the perceived value of being online. Many potential users find global applications too text-heavy and primarily in French, which limits their usefulness to speakers of Hausa and Zarma.
Moreover, there is a scarcity of local digital services catering to agriculture, education, and public services. The report emphasizes that connectivity alone will not persuade people to regularly use the internet; it must offer services and information in languages and formats relevant to their needs. Although Africa may reach approximately 700 million internet users by 2030, achieving the goal of connecting one billion people will necessitate interventions beyond infrastructure development.
Halving the continent's coverage and usage gaps could bring an additional 514 million people online, making the target attainable.
Written by urgent.news from TechCabal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
