Internet accessibility: Continental Comparison
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The document presents a comparative analysis of internet accessibility across different continents, highlighting that over 3.7 billion people globally are internet users, with significant disparities in access and affordability. It details the varying internet penetration rates, mobile subscription statistics, and economic contributions from the internet in regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. Additionally, it emphasizes the issues of data reliability and definitions surrounding internet usage and access.
Internet accessibility: Continental Comparison
- 1. Internet Accessibility Continental Comparison Marcus Leaning Professor of Digital Media Education University of Winchester U.K. Presented at 7th Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Conference, Kingston, Jamaica, 25th October 2017
- 2. INTERNET USER The ITU defines an internet user as an “individual who can access the Internet, via computer or mobile device, within the home where the individual lives”. Thus, it only records people living in a house where there is access, it does not indicate actual use or the amount of use nor the age of the user and therefore includes young children. 3.7 Billion internet users worldwide Upwards of 1 2 3 4 Over 70% of users live in 20 countries. China, India, the USA, Brazil, Japan and Russia have more users than the rest of the world combined. China has 721 million users, 19% of world, only 52% of population are users. India has the fastest growing rate of change increasing by 30.5% in 2016. Iceland is the most connected country on earth (100%). Eritrea the least (1.1%). In 1995 less than 1% of the world’s population was online. Today it is close to 40% 5
- 3. Internet Access: Africa Population: 1,256,50400 54 fully recognized countries and two with limited recognition Western Sahara and Somaililand 388,376,491 current internet users – 23.1% penetration. Nearly 1 billion mobile phone subscriptions (600 million unique subscribers), many users switch sim cards. Users tend to be wealthier, educated and urban. Continental average 10.7% of households have internet access, almost half of the recognized amount needed to benefit the economy. Users pay up to 40 times more than in developed countries for access. Internet contributes 1.1% of GDP (world average 4%). Internet access Mobile devices Households Cost
- 4. Internet access Mobile devices Households Cost Population: 4.4 billion 48 fully recognized countries and Special Autonomous Regions. Internet Access: Asia and Middle East Over 4 billion mobile phone subscriptions (3 billion unique subscribers). Includes some areas where 2 or more subscriptions are the norm (Macau > 3 subscriptions average, HK, UAE, Maldives and Bahrain >2). 2.08 billion current internet users – 47% penetration, big disparity N.Korea 0.1% vs Bahrain 98% Continental average 47.6% of households have internet access. Very mixed some countries (Bahrain, Qatar, Japan )very high others (Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Laos) very low. Differing infrastructure leads to disparities, access in Myanmar and Laos is 10 x cost of access in Singapore.
- 5. Internet Access: Europe 659,634,487 current internet users – 80.2% penetration. 1.15 billion mobile phone subscriptions, 660 million subscribers. Ownership widely distributed. Continental average 85% of households have internet access, 83% with broadband access. Some of the cheapest access in the world but a few pockets of high cost. Roaming changes abolished in 2016. Internet access Mobile devices Households Cost Population: 822.7 million 44 fully recognized countries and four dependent territories.
- 6. Internet Access: North and Central America and the Caribbean 445,731,810 current internet users. Average 76.2 penetration (NA 81.1%, CA 59.7% Caribbean 45.4%). 712 million mobile phone subscriptions (300 mil subscribers). Nearly 100 percent penetration in USA and Canada with numerous multiple sim holders. Continental average 70% of households have internet access, highest US 88.5%, Haiti 12%. Internet access Mobile devices Households Population: 584 million 23 fully recognized countries and 15 dependent territories. US has some of highest costs in the world for broadband services. Cost
- 7. Internet Access: South America 278,596,721 current internet users – 65.3% penetration. Over ½ million mobile phone subscriptions, 270 million separate subscribers. Chile (92%) highest subscriber ratio, Ecuador lowest (54%). Continental average 61.5% of households have internet access. Highest is Chile 77.8% lowest Guyana 39.6% Relatively cheap in urban areas, rural areas significantly more expensive. Internet access Mobile devices Households Cost Population: 426.5 million 12 countries and two dependent territories.
- 8. Internet Access: Oceania 28,180,356 current internet users – 69.6% penetration. Over 43 million subscriptions with 26 million subscribers. Australia and New Zealand nearly 1005 penetration. Continental average 57% of households have internet access, Australia has over 85% while Tonga has 7.3%. Heterogeneous, Australia and New Zealand relatively cheap but problems in distribution means costs in some remote island areas very expensive. Internet access Mobile devices Households Cost Population: 40,479,846 million 14 countries and 11 dependent territories.
- 9. 1 2 3 4 Few standardized, systematic or reliable figures. Data hosted by commercial and Intra-governmental agencies – need systematic approach. Definitions are problematic – Identification as a ‘User’ merely notes an option to access, not actual use. Mobile or cell phones a better indicator especially with spread of 4G and later 5G. Limited data on bandwidth. Some studies indicate that despite widespread use there is a still a digital divide of bandwidth.
- 10. Sources Data from the following organisations was used to calculate the figures used. • Internetworldstats.com • Internet Live Stats. • I.T.U. • GSMA continent reports on Africa, Pacific Asia and South America. • World Bank.
Editor's Notes
- #3: Lots of euphoria over the high numbers now online. Faster than any other technology in history. Within that is considerable complexity and a lot of heterogeneity. The big problem however is defining what we mean by a user. The ITU defines it as an individual who has access within the home where they live. It does not record if they actually use it. More over it fails to account for those who may have access but cannot use due to skills issue or other power relationships. Studies of fixed telephone, TV channel controllers and other mass consumption domestic technologies noted there were lots of issues with who, . No reason to see homes with a single internet point as any different. Here we’ll look at continental access rates against four categories: Absolute access using ITU scores produced using two collation sites – the number of people who have access according to the ITU definition, Mobile device ownership (hidden complexity in these figures as we will see) derived from industry reports and world bank numbers disaggregated manually. The number of households with access ITU data, and the relative cost of being online from World Bank numbers and reports in the Economist. Problems with this figure is that due to a variety of factors – different family structures a number of countries have far fewer people living in each house. My determination of what a continent is of course problematic and I beg indulgence and apologise for any insults