While smartphones are widely adopted across various demographics, there are still notable gaps based on income, education, and age. Although smartphones are common across different income levels, there are distinct differences when it comes to education. Adults with a bachelor’s degree or some college education tend to own smartphones at higher rates than those with only a high school diploma or less.
Age also influences smartphone ownership. Adults aged 50 and older, particularly those 65 and up, are less likely to own a smartphone compared to younger generations.
In many African countries, high-income households are much more likely to have access to broadband. There are significant disparities in broadband access between the wealthiest and lowest-income groups across Africa. For instance, nearly all (95%) adults in higher-income households report having a broadband subscription, compared to only 57% of adults in low-income households earning less each year. This gap is also influenced by the level of formal education, with individuals holding higher levels of education more likely to have broadband access.
Geographically, access to broadband varies widely across urban, suburban, and rural areas. While broadband subscriptions are more common in urban areas, where 77% of people report having high-speed internet at home, rural areas lag behind. This is where we come in with our bridging the gap goal. In many parts of Africa, only around 73% of adults in rural areas have broadband access, with suburban areas typically experiencing the highest levels of connectivity, often above 80%. These disparities highlight the ongoing challenges in bridging the digital divide across the continent. We are proud to say that this has been our mission, and we are happy to say that we’ve covered areas like Lodwar and Isiolo which have always been neglected when it comes to digital conversations. We aim at going into more marginalized areas.
