info@businessghana.com
In 2024, you would assume that most of Africa would have access to the internet and be connected to the internet. But that’s not the case – do you know that some 2 billion people globally are offline, and 5 of the 10 most unconnected nations are from Africa. This is according an in depth study titled: “Digital 2024 Global Overview Report” by DataReportal, in conjunction with Meltwater.
But could be the stumbling block to this divide? Could agricultural farm lands in deserted rural areas be hindering the establishment of broadband infrastructure, could it be a case of a lack of funding, or something else? Both these possibilities may be the reason, given that Africa is home to many poor populations.
As we mark World Telecommunications Day in May 2024, I decided to unpack this study, while also highlighting the impact of digital technologies.
Africa in the spotlight
The report found that at the start of this year, 2.7 billion were still not connected. India was named as homing the most offline people - some 600 million. But to give some context, India is renowned for its bloated population of over 1.4 billion people, plus remember there are millions living in poverty.
The DataReportal study found that African nations like Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were rated as some of the most unconnected countries in the world.
Here are the figures from the report of the largest unconnected populations;
Despite these figures, strangely enough, one African country stood out from the rest of the pack and ranked the highest globally in spending the greatest amount of time online. That was South Africa. With an estimated 9 hours and 24 minutes per day, South Africans were spending loads of time online. Second were Brazilians, spending an average of 9 hours and 13 minutes online. The Philippine’s were third, spending an average of 8 hours and 52 minutes online.
What are connected populations doing online
According to the data, social media remained the most popular connected pastime, with more than 97% of the working-age internet users accessing social networks or messaging platforms each month. Online entertainment and gaming was also ranked in the top 12.
With so much material and resources online, it makes absolute sense that people everywhere are tapping into virtual entertainment, gaming, shopping, and much more. Plus, there are some great advantages like one day deals, discounts, and insane online offers that you would never get in a physical shop.
For example, getting a burger for half-price on a Friday when buying online, or getting flights at reduced offers if purchased online, or discounted travel deals, and even playing online casino games.
And that’s where MDC (Minimum Deposit Casinos) has triumphed. It started off in 2016 has a zero-carbon emission company, completely green and paperless. In 2023, MDC secured its CO2 Neutral Website Certification, reflecting our commitment to a 100% digital future and a more sustainable planet. No printers, no paper, no fax machines – just the internet, laptop, keyboard, and mouse. That’s all we need.
The impact of technology on society
It goes without saying that the internet has had a profound and historic impact on the global population, economies, and workforces. Most connected businesses are thinking outside the box, opening up a world of new possibilities online like the metaverse. This has pushed them to a more innovative, sustainable, and competitive future, giving them a crucial edge over their offline competitors, who have essentially been left behind.
The solution for our future lies in technological advancement, so it’s time for Africa to get on this bandwagon. Enter the world wide web and check it out for yourself, don’t be left behind. The sustainability of your livelihood is through a connected world.
About Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC)
MDC is a division of the OneTwenty Group – an iGaming information resource portal globally. MDC vets hundreds of online casinos through in-depth screening, safety and security checks, scrutiny of valid gaming licenses, responsible gambling tools, and verification of fair gaming to ensure players find the most reputable and regulated online casino brands.
